Trump, like his devotees, gets his news from Fox News or Reality TV. This means that neither dear leader nor his 37% have any understanding of the dynamic that exists between Putin and Assad. Ignorance is Trump's best weapon and his defense.
This does not excuse his apologists in Congress who should be informed enough to realize that Trump has stupidly betrayed not only the Kurds, but also Israel and has ceded leadership in the middle east to Putin and the Oligarchs.
A hint of where this is heading? Oil and Gas are just about Russia's only income streams. What happens if Putin gains control over a large portion of global supply? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!
29
Kind of hard to believe for it is very similar to 1984 where falsehoods are stated as the truth. Who gained from his effort, Putin, Iran, Assad, and Turkey. Turkey recently announced huge purchases of Putin weaponry. So now we know why. Putin profited from the escapade, and Trump for some reason abandoned the Kurds, as another gain for Putin. So now advanced missiles will be aimed fro Syria towards Israel. Assad is now being helped by Putin and Trump.
94
What ended so badly was something that could have no better end. It was foolish to start.
Putting a Kurdish zone up against the Turkish border, ignoring forty years of terrorist attacks by Kurds into Turkey, was simply stupid.
It was done by people too arrogant to care that it was impossible. Whatever might serve the US or Israel simply must be okay. Well, it wasn't. It was nuts.
Trump handled that badly. Then again, he handles almost everything badly.
However, he did handle it, and nobody else did nor would have.
It was made worse by our warfare state's refusal to obey orders. The foot dragging and excuses and exceptions and more excuses characterized the whole Syria war. It was bad faith by the warfare state from the start. It was never even authorized to begin.
So attack Trump for some other things. Don't bother defending the indefensible, and the Syria war cannot be defended.
Are the Kurds suffering? Yes. That comes first of all from those who started something that could not end well.
6
Feedback to the Editorial Board: I would like to raise my concerns on the impact the political polarization in the wake of 2020 elections and its impact on journalism as we value and cherish.
As a Turkish citizen living in Istanbul and a long-time subscriber of NYT, I have to say that the reporting of NYtimes on Syria incursion is one-sided, to say the least.
Turkey is a fairly large country with 80,000,000 citizens. (Its population and size is comparable to France.) A longtime ally in NATO (read as US) which has participated in almost all military missions of NATO, from Korea to Kosava (read as along with US).
The policy of pre-Trump administrations (read as Obama) to arm YPG (also called as SDF) to fight ISIS created a great tremor in Turkish heart and mind towards USA. We take the equality YPG = PKK as granted. PKK is a worldwide declared terrorist organization (except by Russia!) terrorizing especially the citizens living in the eastern part of Turkey for the last 40 years. Open presidential support of USA (Obama!) to PKK=YPG has been a strong shock to us (Turks) and US has lost significant ground in Turkey.
We see Trump's action on Syria as a much-needed, dreadfully delayed policy change. The new policy respects the sensitivities of Turkey, perhaps THE ally of USA in this shaky region. Trump does not want to further arm YPG=PKK which is sound, given the 1980's Afghanistan experience.
Trump can be wrong in his other actions, but perhaps not in this one!
1
Trump conjures up his own personal set of facts that bear no resemblance to reality. Blunders and major defeat become victories in his mind. He is a total danger to the security of this country.
5
If you gave our president ten cents to tell a lie or one dollar to tell the truth he would probably take the ten cents. It show the accuracy of the man's judgment.
4
SNL worthy perhaps, but the Blues Brothers never had their hands on the nuclear codes. And yet up to 40% of the nation has gone full Lindsey and are prepared to lay down their votes for this man.
5
I don't worry about any of this...surely men of integrity like Se. Lindsay Graham would never let this happen.
Your editorial has more vehemence that rational arguments.
Dr Christopher J Bolan of the Army War College provides less emotion and more substance. In his October 2019 article, he makes 10 salient points that your position would object to.
Syria is far from a victory. The war has left the nation deeply divided and suspicious. Bolan refers to as “Pyrrhic.”
Another major point was, “Russia has not ‘won’ anything of substance.” Syrian recovery is well beyond Russia’s ability to address.
A third, will outrage you. Bolan writes, “Talk of an Iranian land bridge through Syria remains nonsense.”
His analysis and well stated reasons can be found at
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/10/10-hard-realities-americas-next-syria-policy/160699/?oref=defense_one_breaking_nl
Is it the Kurds that upsets interventionists? Or is that the pursuit of regime change at all costs has not claimed one more Mideast “success”?
It is time for a reality check and wiser foreign policy decisions.
2
And Bernie? He has a history with Russia. What about Bernie and Tulsi?
1
It’s extremely obvious that:
Trump is Putin’s puppet.
Fox News is Trump’s puppet thanks to Bill Barr.
There is something fishy going on between Mitch McConnell, Lindsay Graham, Rupert Murdoch and Putin’s oligarchs.
2
Why blame Trump. He is only following his master’s orders. Never forget that we have heard this before.
3
Trump is unfit for office - the “commander in chief” of the yellow brigade. The entire point of the outrage is that he sold out the Kurds. US troops left in such a hurry that they left their food wrappers. Amazing that Trump supporters forget he evaded service in Vietnam, was against the bailout of the auto companies (Mr. Manufacturing- haha), and snapped up cheap foreclosed homes (why shouldn’t he make money off the millions who lost their homes). You all must be self medicated.
5
The bone spur president wants to,[ut bone spurs in US personna and withdraw from the world and only work on making it rich. He does not worry about th constitution's premise and declaration an a history of making it a ue people's democrac from the "landed mns' democracy at the ttime of its founding. It still needs to go furhter and make it a true democracy for all its citizens and rmove president's unlimited authority that was unthinkable when a;; founding fathers were TRUE patriots and could not imagine that there will come a toime when a president elected under its non-representative demopcracy will act lik an autocrat and talkusing his guttermouth. The time has come to again modify our constitution where the President is authorized only to act upon the laws passed by HOUSE. Senate's role should be reuced like that of House of Lords in the UK. No guaranteed 4 year term limit. No electioral college./ domaldTrump should be Trumped by the people's houde.
1
Mass murder for the Kurds as Trump's stupidity and ignorance bring aerial bombing and artillery fire raining down on towns, villages, women, and children. The Turks military capabilities compliments of we Americans far surpass the Kurds. Now, do to Trumps bumbling, Turkey is doing business with Putin. Trump rates life in prison for opening the door to genocide.
This should be treated as war crimes along with the American press as it diminishes the gravity of military action. Insult to injury The American press is further negligent in its non coverage of the many refuges, most particularly those operated by the Israelis where Palestinians have been imprisoned for 70 years. As I look over our world with a jaundesed gimlet eye I fail to find anything suggesting hope.
1
Trump's stabbing the Kurds in the back will cause the deaths of many American soldiers in the distant future.
2
How long before Mr. Trump throws a State dinner for Mr. Erdogan?
2
When does Trump get his "very special" removal from office?
8
Treatment of the Kurds should be grounds for impeachment
4
I strongly believe trump has bank loans in turkey and erdogen threatened to call them in unless trump backed off the kurds and let erdogen commit ethnic cleansing.
5
"In shaping his view on Ukraine, too, Mr. Trump apparently paid more heed to autocratic Ukraine-bashers like Mr. Putin and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary than to any of his own advisers."
This is one of two things that amazes me about trump supporters. First, they seem unfazed when their president tells them that every respected American institution he deals with are suddenly found to be enemies!! They just swallow it. And they embellish it with nonsense like 'No evidence found against Hillary? Deep State!'. But trump admits an impeachable offense, and that's proof of his innocence. Wha? In no way has this ever been reality.
Second, the utter hypocrisy of double standard where presidents are concerned. Forgotten are all the TeaParty pearl clutching about Barack AND Michelle Obama. In fact, for a minority of Americans, trump can actually never be wrong! Imagine, in America, a significant portion of citizens think little of supporting the head of the Russian KGB, and a Middle East dictator who filmed the gassing of his own people. Seriously, if trump says it, they solemnly tell us that it HAS to be true. Like an American god.
One lie to Congress was enough for them to impeach Bill Clinton with malice, but they'll support trump as he opens an investigation into the investigations!! Zero dignity or truth.
It would be nice if he could just go about his job, letting people testify, cuz nothing to hide, amirite? Hillary managed to do it without this disgusting act.
3
Trump sold out the Kurds and enabled ethnic cleasing. Trump gave northern Syria to Turkey and Russia. Now Erdogon wants Trump to turn over Kurd leader General Mazloom. How long until Trump complies?
And what is the quid pro quo here? Trump is purely transactional, he's getting something for this.
3
Oh absolutely--let's nominate Trump for next year's Nobel peace prize. Maybe we should rename it the piece prize, since peace is in tatters.
1
trump does something absolutely unconscionable (pulling American troops back, giving the green light to Erdogan to invade).
He gets muted criticism from a handful of loyalists, who show that their spines have not completely left town.
He takes a miniscule step towards making amends for his catastrophic blunder, sending his halfwit Veep to slow down the bleeding: a bandaid on a machete would.
The loyalists' criticsm is even more muted.
He brags about his heroism with great and unmatched smugness.
And from the loyalists... crickets.
Meanwhile, his ISIS allies are celebrating. As is Assad, and Putin, and Iran.
4
tonight he will tweet, 'the mother of all diplomatic battles!' up is down
Now, trump is sending troops back into Syria to "protect the oil"
4
I have tried to avoid panicking about this idiot. But he seems to be increasingly divorced from reality, and has found ways to get around government officials with integrity and common sense so that he can create disaster after disaster for himself, our country, and the world. Now he's trying to send our own intelligence officials to prison over a conspiracy fantasy. Senate Republicans, you got your tax cut, and you got your Supreme Court nominations. It's time to get this man out of the Oval Office before an even greater calamity occurs.
4
NYT needs to do a story about pipelines.
It’s all about getting the south pars/north dome gas to Europe
It’s all about pipelines.
Syria is the key to getting this gas to Europe
Putin wants a piece of the action and more importantly wants to control the amount of gas that could flow to Europe such that the gas doesn’t conflict with Russian gas which has a grip on gas flows to Europe.
The South Pars/North Dome field is a natural-gas condensate field located in the Persian Gulf. It is by far the world's largest natural gas field,[1] with ownership of the field shared between Iran and Qatar.[2][3] According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the field holds an estimated 1,800 trillion cubic feet (51 trillion cubic metres) of in-situ natural gas and some 50 billion barrels (7.9 billion cubic metres) of natural gas condensates.[4] On the list of natural gas fields it has almost as much recoverable reserves as all the other fields combined. It has significant geostrategic influence.[5]. Wikipedia
1
"very special victory" for Russia...the guy is clearly a Putin asset...
2
So let me get this straight. Donald Trump is an American?
3
Time for the long-standing paper of record to call for impeachment. C’mon, failing NYT’s, paper I grew up with and still love, trying not to dwell on 2016, show more spine than the plankton, as your great Roger Cohen coined the Republicans. What more do you need? An admission from the resident and his acting chief?
2
The Middle East is a patch of blood stained sand. And America should stay out of it. With fracking, America can produce all the oil it needs. There is no logical reason for Americans to fight and die to defend various tinpot dictators and sheikhs. Let them fight their own wars. Whoever wins will keep selling their oil to the rest of the world. What else can they do with it? Why should any more Americans soldiers die?
1
"and once most respected'.... Now are you really sure about that?
Muller NEVER exonerated trump...he stated that he would not indict a sitting president.
Funny how, shortly after trump, escaping further probing and declaring, with his partner in crime, Barr, that there was no "collusion"...which is NOT what the report said, trump does what Putin wished for all along.
What a coincidence!!!! Would not be surprised if Syria was one of the main reasons Putin helped trump....whether our Mr Innocent Ignorant leader, knew it or not.
This editorial reeks of bitter disappointment that the withdrawal didn't become the catastrophe the Left and media predicted. Where's the Kurdish body count? I don't doubt people died but the Times would be splashing the number across the front page if it was significant (in Syria terms).
What exactly did Putin win - the responsibility of keeping ISIS, Iran, Turkey, Assad, and the Kurds from starting WWIII? Doesn't sound like much of prize. And by the way, in this chaotic region of constantly shifting alliances, our credibility is just fine by comparison. Just admit that Trump got this one right.
13
Let's just call it for what it is. An exceptional screwup for a "president." People died and he takes a victory lap. SAD!!
2
Was this calamity a warning to all our other allies? A warning to Ukraine? A warning to Europe? Was it a bloody way of showing,“I’ll give you to Putin if you don’t play ball”?
2
Cut and run from comrade-in-arms and go protect whose oil? Not ours. Disgraceful.
2
Eradicate the GOP.
1
As we all watch the appalling disaster that is the Trump presidency fumble and lie its way along, I would ask you to consider this.
Many of you reading this comment were “screened” in order to qualify for the job you have. Or members of your family or friends were screened.
Screening — behavioral, psychological, criminal history, etc. — protects the public from potential harm in a broad variety of ways.
Law enforcement officials, airline pilots, public school teachers, workers in nuclear power plants, air traffic controllers... The list goes on and on.
The reason I point this out is that our irrational, pathological liar, delusional, ignorant president could not become a policeman, a pilot, a school teacher or an air traffic controller. His behavior and personality disorders would disqualify him.
Imagine Donald Trump, social studies teacher, standing in front of a classroom filled with 12-year-old 7th-graders. Telling them one lie after another. Bragging about his imaginary accomplishments.
What if your child was Trump’s student?
How would you feel being on a 747 piloted by Captain Trump.
There is something seriously wrong with a system that would NOT allow Trump to work in a nuclear power plant (psychological screening), but WILL allow him to be the most powerful elected official on the planet, the commander-in-chief of the most powerful military force in the world...
People who work in day care centers are screened.
The POTUS is not.
How crazy is that???
3
When about mr Trump you never forget to also take the opportunity to lie about Russia and to fuel hate against the President of Russia.Why?
Russia is NOT Nato's(read:America's) foe as you don't stop trying to sell to your readers and doesn't give "marching" orders to your Nato ally Erdogan.Please stop this bias and stick to the facts.
Is there anyone who doesn't see this man is crazy?
3
Is the final fuse been lit on the powder keg that is he Middle East ?
Another American blunder in the Middle East!
2
More winning.
Hey, just thinking... We could solve our Mexico border wall problem by invading Mexico and creating a 200-mile-wide safe zone within Mexico, killing all 'terrorist' within that zone, and of course Mexico would pay for the extermination patrols. With some negotiations from our negotiator in chief, we could even trick the Russians to do it for us. It's a win win situation.
Last week, on a very special episode of "SuperPresident!":
Syrian Kurds: "After years and many lives lost, we've captured over 10,000 ISIS fighters, just like you wanted. We'd like to discuss improved security."
Trump: "Thank you for your service this time. Why weren't you around at the Battle of the Bulge?"
Erdogan: "We have security concerns about the Kurds in Syria. They're a menace and a threat."
Trump: "Effective immediately, we're bringing our 2000 troops home. Mission Accomplished!"
US Generals: (Exsqueeze me?!?)
*gunshots*
Kurds, retreating: Help! Help!
*more gunshots*
*Turkish forces releasing ISIS fighters formerly contained by the Kurds*
Trump: "I have negotiated a cease-fire between Turkey and Syrian Kurds through my good friend Vladimir Putin, so no more Kurds will die from violence. I alone could do it!"
Erdogan: "Let's kill some more Kurdish vermin!"
Kurds: "They're still attacking! Help!"
(blank screen, then the logo "SuperPresident!")
what is wrong with us that we elected this monster? he shames us every day.
2
It gives me great pleasure, and hope as well, to see hard working government employees defy the White House to give testimony on his corruptions. May the impostor currently in the Oval Office soon be buried in paperwork and jail time for all his crimes and misdemeanors. His priority in the Middle East is to secure oil fields, not lives. He hears only the sound of money. A dreadful specimen of the human race.
How much lie one can take ?
We are losing sleep because of trump and this congenital liar sleeps well obvously.
Wish we had Justin Trudeau as President, sigh...
1
Trump's handling of Syria is not playing well in Israel. The following story provides a look at how and why.
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/israeli-outrage-turkey-syria-operation-191025094744106.html
Clueless- es. Who knew he could be so malicious?
It's also a very special win for the 300 pound traitor and his corrupt treasonous party which will surely be greatly rewarded by the Russians in 2020.
And republican senators continue to fall in line, pathetic
So cute to see how obediently Donald Trump runs errands for dictators. Hope Putin and Erdogan gave him a good tip.
trump is a traitor. It's really rhat simple.
2
Why is it that whatever our dictator Trump does benefits Putin and other dictators? It is too consistent to be accidental stupidity.
Trump must be insane if he thinks that Russia and Syria are going to let the US take control of the oil fields without a fight. Oil is really the only thing of true value in Syria and that's the main reason that Russia is there along with Putin's desire to be the main factor in the middle-east.
Trump is a moron and Putin and Assad know it. What Trump doesn't seem to realize that he has put our troops in much more jeopardy than they were before Turkey entered Syria and these latest action my start a hot war between the US and Russia unless Trump relinquishes control of the oil fields.
Everything Trump says and does provides proof of what an utter buffoon he is. He’s a child masquerading as an adult polluting the world with increasingly hotter air.
Let us rid ourselves of this pile of human refuse.
Once again the Times has described the president's actions as being "bizarre." I wonder how many hits would result from a search of articles describing Trump's statements or actions as being "bizarre." The ever increasing number seems to have zero impact on American voters. It is time to ask why that is the case, and to start addressing why his insane conduct is accepted by such a large voting segment, Why have so many Americans decided to elect and support this erratic, egotistical, idiot of a president? What is the real problem with America?
People are dying because of this pathetic excuse for a man.
If one draws a line through all of the things that Trump has done which benefit Putin since he took office, the consistency is amazing. From betraying Israeli intelligence secrets in the Oval Office early on, to Helsinki, to the current tragedy and fiasco in Syria Trump could not be more useful to Putin if he were trying.
Perhaps he IS trying, in gratitude for his election. Whether this is the case or the “useful idiot” hypothesis is true, it amounts to treason.
1
Support POTUS or not, this man is mentally ill.
It kills me that our country is being dictated by this moron and, unlike the residents of Hong Kong, we are are content sipping our brewed coffee in the morning writing comments to op-eds. God forbid we take real action.
Can Trump be so stupid that he did not know what he was doing? If yes, the 25th amendment should be invoked. If no, he should be impeached and convicted for treason.
Where are the Republicans?
I want to call attention to trump's statement on Syria, found at the end of this posting...
Mark Esper said: "...The purpose of the troop repositioning is to “ensure that we can deny ISIS access to the oil fields,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State."
The troops would remain in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour, where the United States has maintained a base, Esper said. He said the U.S. military remains in close contact with the Syrian Kurdish forces that it has long assisted.
Esper’s announcement came a day after Trump said on Twitter that “we will NEVER let a reconstituted ISIS have those fields!”
“Perhaps it is time for the Kurds to start heading to the Oil Region!” he added.
How clueless is this idiot? Asking the Kurds to defend the oil fields after you threw them under the bus.
For god's sake, what kind of idiot are you?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-defense-secretary-mark-esper-says-us-will-leave-forces-in-syria-to-defend-oil-fields-from-islamic-state/2019/10/25/fd131f1a-f723-11e9-829d-87b12c2f85dd_story.html
1
Clueless. Shameless. Heartless. Mindless.
Boastful. Prideful. Hurtful. Scornful.
I'm sickened by this terrible, terrible man.
Trump's Very Special Victory is true … if you are an oil multi. The troops he ordered "home" from northern Syria are simply being re-deployed to the oil fields in eastern Syria so that ISIS does not get them, the same ISIS that the Swamp King declared a while ago to have been defeated in a variation on Dubya Bush's "Mission Accomplished". Not only are the troops apparently being redeployed, reports are that they are to be beefed up with armor or armor-plated vehicles. I guess needless wars do not pertain to defending natural resources his donors want. After all, Hell hath no fury like a donor scorned.
One more victory for the village idiot. This time, though, maybe, the banana republicans will see this for what it is - the inept fumbling and flailing of a cowardly ignoramus, with deadly consequences in terms of human life and American greatness. What a completely unfit clown.
Donald Trump is a traitor.
It would be interesting to see if trump could actually look an ally in the face after this debacle without turning away in shame. The same goes for the troops we placed there in harm's way.
I'd bet he could do it. He doesn't even see them much less have any shame over his decisions to put the screws to them.
How the Republicans in Congress (or anybody, for that matter) can continue to excuse trump's behavior is really just beyond my comprehension.
Pence didn't negotiate anything. Edrogan threw Trump a favor and Pence and Pomp went there to get the photo op. Trump just gave Edrogan what he's wanted for years. A license to hunt and kill Kurds. We were standing in the gap, with a precious ally that fought and nearly destroyed ISIS for us.
Trump walked out of the room, turned off the lights and gave the keys to Edrogan. And Putin. And unleashed a whole new round of Hell in the Middle East.
Of course, Munich 1938 immediately comes to mind with the roles of England's Neville Chamberlain and France's Edouard Daladier played by Donald Trump and Mike Pence (assisted by Mike Pompeo.) Unfortunately this isn't a Saturday Night Live skit.
Let's also not forget the similarity to the sudden Molotov-von Ribbentrop of mid August 1939, that led a few weeks later to September 1, 1939 and the start of WW2.
2
The underlying hypocrisy of best friends Trump and Putin is breathtaking. Erdogan is in a tough place and in spite of the fact that there is a rendering of Ataturk in official photos we see of Erdogan, Ataturk would not view the veil on Mrs. Erdogan's head as a sign of a modern Turkey nor many of Erdogan's policies. But that was then and this is now. The Kurds are part of the infamous renting of the fabric after WWI w/President Wilson leaving them w/o a country. Yet they were our allies in recent battles in the ME. Now they join refugees after Trump's promise to them was null and void. It's difficult to choose who suffers the most: the Syrians under Assad and now Russia. The Kurds. The Yemeni. The propaganda of this White House is on a level w/that of the best, even more so with the flying superlatives mixed in with the profanity.
3
It's like a malevolent clown somehow got control of the engine-room and the train's speeding towards a collapsed bridge while a sub-committee is forming to discuss the wording of a formal rebuke.
I, along with a large part of the non-US world, can only watch in dismay.
5
What affliction leads to self aggrandizing over “fixing” something you, yourself have broken? Although we were urged in 2016 to be cautious and not normalize Trumpian behavior, the sheer volume of lunacy is beyond comprehension. Especially mysterious is the fact that it apparently remains invisible to members of the Republican Party.
3
“It’s too early to me to be congratulated.” As a Reagan Republican, I disagree President Trump. It's the exact right time to congratulate you, for you and you alone are responsible for this weak and passive U.S. retreat which not only recklessly abandoned our Kurdish allies but also empowered your autocratic friends Erdogan and Putin. You sell yourself short, when you demur. Only you could have created such a masterful Twitter plan that not only endangers our ally Israel, but also sets an odd new international precedent that it is ok to create "safe zones" by attacking and claiming land from neighboring nations. You deserve all the credit for this fiasco Mr. President!
3
I'm surprised Trump didn't mention how he might again be in line for the Nobel Peace Prize with this “permanent” cease-fire that only he, alone, could have brokered. Especially if you add this to his wildly successful denuclearization agreement with Kim Jong-un. I can imagine soon hearing him humbly bring this up; "Some people say..."
I'll also know Trump's base is rooted squarely in the Twilight Zone if at his upcoming rallies, the mention of his special, heck, supreme, victory in Syria brings up chants of "Nobel Prize, Nobel Prize...".
I look forward to a quick and successful impeachment with removal, if only to finally end his disinformation disseminating cult rallies.
4
Dear America. As a long-standing visitor to your great nation and indeed I used to work for a US company, I am saddened to see how Trump is undermining your reputation and blowing up the international order - he is truly an ignorant and arrogant man. But, you voted for him - he is your representative. If he loses the 2020 election the West will start to recover but if he is re-elected then I fear for America - it will be a different place to what I once knew and admired. Now, there is a valid question about whether the US should be the world's policeman and I understand the viewpoint of middle America on this as these places are far away and have little impact on lives in the middle. But the world isn't a nice place and the West has to defend its freedoms and security and as the richest and most powerful western nation the US used to take the lead. The UK and EU nations aren't powerful enough to take over but a second term of Trump may see that change as we can't handover influence to people like Putin.
2
It really annoys me hearing the President got the cease fire to assist the Kurds. Both President Trump's actions and words indicate he does not care at all about the plight of the Kurds. I suspect the actual reason the ceasefire was necessary was to permit US Forces to withdraw without suffering casualties. Since if US forces were killed because of Trumps ineptitude it would be hard for Trump to spin that to his supporters.
1
A special talent of Trump’s: preening.
Especially when there is little reason to preen.
2
Connect the dots. Before it's too late.
Democrats pretend that the bloodshed in Syria is Trump’s legacy, but Obama's war in Syria led to Trump’s war in Syria by engaging in another regime change war.
The same jihadist head-choppers that the US deployed against Syria are now fighting alongside Turkey to occupy the northeast of the country.
The US’ role in Syria and in the greater ME has been destructive throughout this century.
The invasion and occupation of Iraq have left destruction and chaos. The illegal bombing of Libya and the brutal murder of its prime minister, Muammar al-Gaddafi, have created a failed state. The US’ alliance with Saudi Arabia in the war against Yemen has resulted in mass murder and destruction. The ongoing conflicts with Iran through illegal unilateral coercive measures (sanctions), regime change attempts, threats of war and military skirmishes have created more instability in the region. And, the US’ “special relationship” with Israel has allowed continued ethnic cleansing and land theft from the Palestinians and has been a tool for instability in the region. The never-ending war in Afghanistan continues to cause destruction as the US remains even though it has been defeated.
The US’ contribution to the current chaos and destruction precedes Trump. While the brutal attacks by Turkey in Syria are being blamed on Trump, in reality, they go back to President Obama.
Democrats and their allies in the intelligence community & media want the permanent war going on at any cost, including the NYT
1
It wasn’t very long ago that most people of n the U.S. wondered about or laughed at “Baghdad Bob,” who always had good news about Saddam’s soldiers against the U.S. forces, supposedly victorious even as U.S. forces were closing in.
1
As I WROTE EARLIER TODAY. Elections do have consequences. I read a bit of this article and my head starts shaking. I stare out the window. I read a little more. I stare at my dog, who is happily clueless, and just waiting for a ride in the car, I look at a few comments and then stare out the window. I wonder if those who voted for the Gutter Rat figured this would happen, I stare out the window........
3
So this reminds me of a very unscrupulous gift shop owner. Lots of graft, corruption and an unwillingness to make sure the stores product will be available to customers. America decides that the thing to do is storm the store and take over and then put in a new store owner more amenable to the customer. Most of the stores wares are destroyed, but it reopens , albeit far from what it was under the corrupt owner. Then this chaos spreads to the nearby stores and it becomes even worse. Other countries decide to take America's lead and do the same thing. They storm in and create an even worse situation than the first store. And now the whole market place is a mess and America, under Trump's tutelage, decides that the adage "You broke it, you own it" doesn't apply to us. He decides to leave the store as it is and tries to convince everyone that what America is leaving behind is a beautiful thing. Down the road when these places start to show their anger over our role in creating the mess, people like Trump will stand there and say "Us? Little ole' America? We are the world's saviors.
You don't appreciate us. You people are brutal terrorists. We need to destroy you". Little Irans. Sprouting up all over the place.
As I told my wife, Trump is looking more and more like a Russian mole, planted to destabilize America to further Russia's goals. This latest betrayal with the Kurds only reinforces this idea, as it handed the land grab on a silver platter to Turkey and Russia.
2
Wrong on absolutely everything, since the beginning.
"..whether there might be a better way to conduct the foreign policy of the world’s most powerful — and once most respected — nation. "
And the Times claims that Trump is free of irony! Pot calling kettle on this one.
Fearful symmetry.
Russia and Turkey now control Syria's northeastern border.
Self-anointed Republican storm troopers rush a secure room in the Capitol where Democrats and Republicans are conducting an impeachment inquiry.
What's wrong with this picture?
Lets be fair. Trump has already told us that he knows more than all the generals and only he can solve things. And why not? He has repeatedly pointed out that he is a stable genius with unmatched wisdom who makes perfect phone calls. Given all that, why would anyone belief the fake news printed in a liberal leaning newspaper that is the enemy of the people?
I realize that this is off topic, but, we should not forget, when we comment on the actions of others that we are also holding women and children in unconscionable conditions on our southern border.
1
[[“an interesting term, safe zone,” the president mused, as if he had just come up with a radically new concept.]]
Now I hear it...he sounds like Rodney Dangerfield doing his standup act. Quips and one liners delivered out the side of his mouth, breathy, sweating, eyes bugging out.
“An interesting term, safe zone, y'know what I mean?”
1
Only I can fix it. I know more than all the generals. I am a stable genius. My unmatched wisdom. It was a perfect phone call. Very special victory. Anyone who repeatedly says thigs like this is very sick. Forget obstruction of justice or the extorsion of Ukraine to serve his political ends; he needs to be removed because he is mentally ill.
The Obama Administration intervened in Syria on the side of one of the many factions of a bloody civil war. It failed, making a bad situation considerably worse, creating hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, more refugees, none of whom we will let into our country. Staying one extra day in Syria is simply reinforcing that failure. Assad is in control. Russia is his ally. We need to move on. Trump did the right thing, though the implementation could have been better.
Donald Trump has taken the term "special needs" to a whole new level.
At least others with special needs have a reason.
Most of the world is stuck deciding whether it is worse that Trump is a liar, a fool, or a disturbed individual. The combination of Trump's defects actually helps him.
I've recently learned of a concept called the Truth Default Theory. Most persons, when encountering another of whom they are suspicious, will default to believing the person is truthful despite their suspicions until their doubts reach such a critical mass as to cause them to accept that the person is a liar.
Trump lies regularly; it is his modus operandi. The Washington Post has a count of his telling 13,000+ lies since his inauguration. Yet for many, including the 40% that compose his base, there are not enough doubts about his veracity to cause these people to reject him entirely due to his consistent falsity.
It may be that Trump's obvious ignorance, disabling need for attention, narcissism, defensiveness, and myriad other mental and psychological disorders do in fact provide him cover for the doubts that we would have of his truthfulness. There is a tendency to blame one statement or another on his narcissism or his ignorance or whatever, but in so doing we prevent the doubts from adding up in our minds; and thus, we default to truth.
Our nature is basically to trust. If we did not, then nothing could be accomplished. All Americans need to confront our natures and recognize that we have are well more doubts than needed to persuade us that Trump is a liar. We must stop defaulting to truth.
This very "very special victory" is just the beginning of the end off American predominance in the world.
As the leading country the downfall will take a long time, with most probably a few uplifting moments that will live the illusion that America is back again on the foreign affairs front.
But given the rising power of China, its massive investments it makes in most parts of the world with no military threats (so far) there is little America will be able to do if it keeps threading an erratic path made of treasons, unfriendliness and unreliability as it has done since Donald Trump entered the White House.
2
A simple analogy to Trump's claim for the "cease fire" would be an arsonist who starts a fire in a building, then calls the fire department, and then takes credit for saving the building.
But does the analogy go too far? Is Trump really an arsonist? You decide.
@ernieh1 "Is Trump really an arsonist?"
Is a 400-lb. robin fat?
1
We gave up our leadership role in the region. Allowing our adversary, Russia to move in. We allowed Turkey over a telephone call, to cross the border and come slaughter and displace our ally, the Kurds. We have created a new threat to our age long ally, Israel. We have undermined the thinking and pride of our military.
For all this, Mr. Trump is now claiming a "Very Special' Victory in Syria.
You're wondering where to begin when analyzing anything Putin's Puppet say? Start in the fiction section. Trump observes everything from a parallel universe composed of ever-shifting time and space. Nothing is real, everything is mutable. Remember the insane words of his justifier-in-chief: "Truth isn't truth."
Impeachment inquiry going on? Compound it with more impeachable offenses! Like "too big to fail," how about "too many to prosecute"?
We are living in a bizarro world, no thanks to Trump and his acolytes. And if we call them out on any of their innumerable offenses, they'll turn around and say that WE did it. Then Fox, etc., will say that they're right (agonizing pun intended). It's enough to make one want to give up and give in, but that's what they want. I, for one, am in it until the trumpists are out of it. I'm donating, I'm demonstrating, I'm voting.
3
We should shortly expect to see the UN recognize Autonomous Kurdistan in IRAQ as a full independent nation similar to South Sundan, separated from Sudan with its oil fields intact.
Non with standing the fact the US killed thousands of IRAQUI to keep just that from happening and I suspect is the major cause for the Syrian distraction war. But, as the sniping head shots show at the Baghdad protests, eliminating opposition, even protestors, is a full time job. Still, a fitting end to this yet another tragic war, giving nationhood to the very sect we spend American lives and billions of dollars to prevent. The shadows of our departure from Hanoi loom large at the end of this despicable intervention that should not have happened.
Yes, Mr. Trump most certainly comes across as a fool in his presentation. And what is happening to the Kurds is most certainly horrible.
But how can the New York Times editorial board possibly think that this is some sort of victory for Russia? Moscow has just inherited responsibility for rehabilitating a devastated country (Syria), containing a resurgent ISIS terrorism threat, resettling millions of refugees, and balancing the competing interests in Syria of Iran and Turkey.
As for the Kurds: the US alliance with them was a marriage of convenience and provided great mutual benefit. But the US has never sought a Kurdish independent state, and everyone involved in this alliance knew that once ISIS was driven from Syria, a reckoning would have to take place.
Traditionally, Syria has always been aligned with Moscow. And that is largely why Syria is not now and has never been a vital US interest, unlike Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and some of the gulf states.
I believe that history will record Mr. Trump’s decision to pull our troops out of Syria as one of his more intelligent foreign-policy decisions. As for Mr. Putin... be careful what you wish for.
1
Thanks to 45, the Communists are winning. We have effectively surrendered. If this is “making America great again” it sure doesn’t feel like it. Ask the UAW workers if they’re tired of “winning” yet. GM is trying to decide where in Mexico to move the remainder of the factories there. Why not? There’s a tax break in it for them! God help the US
3
So let's see if I understand this correctly: Trump pulls troops from Syria who were working WITH the Kurds (our allies) to fight ISIS. He now plans to send troops back into Syria to protect oil wells that serve to fund the monster Assad brutal war (that produces ISIS warriors) and help Russia. Trump Undermines R Democracy. Every day, every minute
1
In response to the opening quote, it’s a safe bet no other power will likely claim credit for Trump’s recent ‘gift’ to the Kurds, aside from maybe Putin.
Russia had a presence in Syria before the Saudis sent ISIS in. They will retain their position there. Turkey is no friend or Ally to the United States- but no one in our government is talking about breaking that relationship over Syria or the Kurds. We were never going to support an independent Kurdistan- so we were going to abandon our ally eventually.
It seems to me that if the people of the United States want war in Syria we can go ahead and have Congress declare it. We can spend twenty years in Syria, fight Assad, Russia, Iran and Turkey. We can waste a couple trillion dollars and throw the lives of our children away. After the twenty years we can leave, having lost and accomplished nothing.
All this hyperventilating about Syria is confusing to me. The country is going broke and we want to borrow money to fight another undeclared war? Who are we going to send to die for no reason? The war-mongers on the left have no intention of sending their kids.
3
@Willt26
"All this hyperventilating about Syria is confusing to me."
Very simple, they cannot admit Trump was right.
@Willt26 So in order to avoid being "war mongers" we should let dictators and corrupt businesses take over the world? 1000 troops to keep the peace is not much and is ultimately cheaper than war.
We're all being too hard on Trump. We should all learn to be more charitable in our criticisms. After all, if Trump doesn't know where Colorado is, how can he be expected to solve problems in the Middle East?
6
Putin and Erdogan saw an opportunity because US was overextended in the Middle East and our policies were failing after invasion of Iraq and liberation of Libya.The democratic revolutions in Egypt and Syria also failed.Even the attempt by Bush and Sharon to turn Gaza into a democratic Palestinian enclave failed with takeover by Hamas.
Trump is correct that US cannot survive endless wars. However the correct approach in Syria would have been diplomatic initiatives to get all foreign powers out of Syria and give the Kurds a seat at the table as had occured in Iraq.This all they wanted. We failed them because our president wants to be a one man show. This is not a reality game show.
3
One reassuring outcome of this debacle is that it makes it very unlikely the military (unlike some other very senior appointed government officials) will follow President Trump down any unconstitutional paths. There question remains do they have a mechanism to deflect any future lawful, but unwise orders?
It's called quid pro quo----Trump pulls US out of Syria and Russia gets a foothold in Syria. I hope the only thing Trump is getting in return from Putin is Russian assistance in the 2020 presidential race.
1
Because Trump is already assured of Putin’s help in the election. It’s already under way.
The troops aren't coming "home." They're now guarding oil fields. So it's ok for Erdogan to shoot civilians and destroy property but make sure the oil fields are protected. And the Iraqis want us out in a month. Don't blame them. With Trump in charge we're a big liability. Great job as usual, Republicans. Maybe Lindsey can do a peace mission and bow to Erdogan.
8
People commenting here seem to forget that Syria has always been an important Russian proxy. At the same time, Syria has never, ever been a vital US interest. Pulling out of Syria was therefore not a loss for the United States, nor was it particularly a gain for the Russians. Russian interest in Syria has merely been concretized, and the Russians now bear all the responsibility of reconstructing a shattered nation.
4
It is not Syria that’s a great loss (and it isn’t), it’s the betrayal of faithful allies and the final loss of trust in America as a reliable ally that are the major problems.
In addition, ever since WWI (and before) Russia (and the Soviet Union while it existed) have wanted a warm water port for their navy. Bingo!
And America now has no voice in what’s happening in this region along with the lack of respect and (for those that think fear is more important than respect) lack of fear as Trump has turned the USA in a paper tiger.
Congrats, Donny Johnny! You’ve undone in 3 years what it took 200 years to create.
4
@David H And the Kurds who did our fighting for us with ISIS. 11,000 of them died so we could defeat ISIS. Does honor figure into this equation? If Trump was determined to pullout should not the conversation have begun with the Kurds? No, not for Trump. Trump speaks only to dictators with special reverence for Putin!
3
@David H
Is the UK a 'US proxy'? Or are you using the terms 'ally' and 'proxy' interchangeably?
Lets be clear. He didn't negotiate a "cease fire" - he negotiated the surrender of our ally. There's no way to sugarcoat this.
29
The Kurds were an “ally” of convenience and mutual benefit. And they knew full well that once they finished helping us drive ISIS out of Syria, that would be a reckoning. They were never an “ally” along the lines of Egypt, Jordan, or Israel. One must be careful when using the word “ally.”
You just sugarcoated it. It wasn’t surrender of an ally, it was the slaughter of them and ripping the population from their houses.
I am awestruck by the whimsical fantasy world that Donald Trump lives in. Who other then Donald Trump, has the hutzpah to believe that simply by saying something it is forevermore reality. For instance the Kurds are very happy. Because everyone loves an exile or as Trump would prefer to think of it as an extended “road trip”?
12
trump says that those who were disabled in the military aren't "his type" based on their inability to stay on the battlefield.
Are his followers OK with that statement?
13
@Scott Franklin
The answer to your question has to be a resounding "yes" as they were silent and apparently agreed with Trump about how McCain was NOT a hero for being caught & imprisoned in North Vietnam, tortured and starved.
Trump saw McCain as a "loser".
1
@Scott Franklin apparently yes.
I sincerely believe that trump and Putin planned this during one of their private meetings. There was a time when I wouldn't have entertained such an idea, but that time has passed. As improbable as it may have once seemed, I propose that the Kurds were part of the trump/Putin plan. And it's interesting that no transcripts of the trump/Putin meetings were ever produced. Who has benefited from this? Not the United States, but Turkey, Russia and Syria.
17
Trump and Putin negotiated the withdrawal of US troops and influence from the Middle East (except, what happens to Israel?)
Next will be our withdrawal from Europe and the consequent crumbling of NATO.
Perhaps Putin will take on Xi at some point. Russia and China will engage in a titanic struggle to rule the world.
“I think there once was a place called the United States. Whatever happened to it?”
1
How do you say “Mission Accomplished!” in Russian?
20
Thank you for making the truth live in this world of Trump double ungood newspeak and ...
LIES!
10
everyone sure is playing monday revisionist quarterback on this one... seems like everyone forgets the difference between pullin back and pulling out....one thing is for Sure about this....pull back...it has SAVED American Lives and we Do Not need to be in the middle of that Insane battle going on in Syria anymore than the World needs a Armageddon ...for remember there is a 1000 years of Peace Promised /Amen^
1
Surrendering often saves lives temporarily, while setting the stage for greater loss of life and property in the future. Remember your comment when Isis resurges and the Kurds refuse to help us again because Trump stabbed them in the back. And, if this was such a service to our military, why were they so against it?
"Mission Accomplished!"
All roads lead to Putin!
8
You are rocking this.
1
Over the past couple of years, Trump has done enormous damage to the US' standing in the world, as well as to the US itself. The betrayal of the Kurdish allies takes the damage to a wholly new level. This is no longer comical and (in time) reparable.
3
Trump will tell self-serving lies, unfazed by reality and unshaken in the certainty that whatever benefits him is good for the USA. His utter shamelessness is a staggering weapon.
7
Not only does he lie constantly, he believes his lies. That’s the scary part.
@Civic Samurai
Trump could lie about the sun falling from the sky, and as people in congress defended Trump as they do now, neither Trump or the GOP supporters know the meaning of being ashamed of lying.
How is it we put an end to endless wars so we can bring our troops home and still have troops on hand to guard oil wells? If they are attacked by one of many adversaries roaming Syria, are they to defend the oil wells by themselves?
Trump's impulsive decision to let the Turks slaughter the Kurds seems less and less impulsive as each day goes by. There seems to be a lock step progression of roads leading to Putin and oil wells which I doubt Trump cooked up, but was more than willing to facilitate. I don't think those of us who despise Trump and have been following him closely these past 3 years have viscerally grasped just how far in the gutter this man can go.
10
Trump is using the president's office to enrich himself and his friends... To him, it is ok for the Saudis to killed anyone who speaks up against them, as he would do the same if he has a way. In fact, he has done it in a way that is far more chilling... He called the free press the enemy of the state, which put our reporters in dangers of his radical (and uninspired to say the least) supporters.
Turkey and Russia's deal is putting the Kurds on a slowly but surely journey of death, as there is no one to stop the Syrian government to kill its opponents.
To him, it is also ok to withdraw the much needed aid to the Ukrainian government, as long as he can benefit at the end...
Last but not least... the Republicans now (or at least those in office) are abandoning the American values for small political party gain. They are endangering our very own democracy that is admired and inspiring many to follow... We... well, Trump and his supporters, set the wrong example for the world.
11
Trump is never going to see the reality of his consequences of his actions. His delusion insists on victory, success, top of the world Ma. The early hope that a few months of experience with the awesome responsibility of POTUS evaporated as he surrounded himself with corrupt minions and dumped everyone who contradicted or criticized his decrees. The remaining lackeys tell him that everything he does is great, that his "gut" is always right, that the dictators of the world admire and respect him. He believes it, and he always will. And when he's impeached and removed, he'll be suing the government for the next twenty years.
3
Trump and the GOP have become the Party of Manchurians.
Can it be any clearer why Putin schemed to put Trump in office?
In the Syrian affair, Putin functioned as the real President of the US and Erdogan and Assad as the Vice-Presidents.
The Kurds' alliance with Syria was shortlived indeed--Assad handed them over to the Russians as soon as he received his marching orders. Meanwhile, more US troops are heading to Saudi Arabia--mercenaries available to the highest bidder.
Does Trump care about America? Obviously not. Trump only cares about the Turkish lira and Russian rubles flowing into his organization.
Make America Great Again? Indeed. When will Trump's base wake up?
China and Russia are on a tear, while the US implodes through the weight of Trump's isolationism, an image of his narcissism.
What must Merkel, Macron, Boris, and Bibi think?
Impeach and evict from Trump Towers, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Or kick him out in 2020 before he does any more damage.
11
In a country whose head of state has now demanded that the law is no longer the law and the truth is no longer the truth, no wonder that a humiliating and amoral defeat is now hailed as an unprecedented victory ...'something very, very special.'
Our democracy can no longer afford this demented lunacy and its
thoroughly corrupt leader.
It's that obvious, that vital and that urgent.
10
Did it ever occur to anyone the reason we had to help the Kurds in the first place is because we funded and armed ISIS? In 2012, Obama initiated the top secret, covert CIA operation (codenamed Timber Sycamore) in conjunction with Saudi Arabia to arm and fund Islamic jihadist (the "good" rebels as they are referred to in the press) to overthrow Assad. The only reason the operation was discovered was that Jane's Defence Weekly, a weekly magazine reporting on military and corporate affairs reported on large arms shipment going through some Baltic states. Thankfully, Assad, the Russia and the Kurds were able to defeat them and keep Syria from turning into an ISIS stronghold and the slaughter of numerous minor religious sects, including a large Christian sect that had long been protected by Assad. This bit of the Syrian civil war never seems to get explained or discussed in the press, nor the fact that the former Soviet Union and, subsequently, Russia has had a decade long relationship that include naval ports and military bases and assistance. From the sounds of the pundits in the press, they make it sound as if WE turned Syria over to the Russians. We invaded that country with our troops. We should never have been there with our CIA in the first place and we should have certainly never have been their with boots on the ground military force. Let Syria return to Syrians and let them control their own country. The Kurds live in Syria. They need to deal with Assad. Not us.
1
I have heard numerous retired generals and admirals weigh in on trump’s disastrous decision to accede control of the territory occupied by the Kurds in Syria to Turkey and Russia. Not a single one has offered the opinion that President Obama is totally to blame for this situation. Not a single one.
5
@Sharon Salzberg
What's your point? I'm not "blaming" anyone, just trying to put this whole mess in its proper historical context. Second, don't put too much faith in what these generals tell you or the official establishment line. They also said Saddam had WMD's and never mentioned that we help create ISIS and were arming al Nusra in Syria, an al Qaeda affiliate.
1
You make it sound like Obama did this to deliberately undermine American interests, which is a gross distortion. He initially resisted the plan and finally gave in to David Petraeus, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and none other than Benjamin Netanyahu. Did it turn out to be a bad plan? Yes, but don’t try to pin this completely on Obama.
@Jim Brokaw:
Regarding Syria:
Please name ONE American who was part of a tour group and who was arrested for spying. Even poor Otto Warmbier, who was part of a tour group and was killed by the North Koreans, was arrested for breaking their rules.
It is not illegal to go to Syria, and the U.S. has a big embassy in Damascus. Criminal gangs and militias in Damascus? Here's a bulletin: Damascus isn't Five Points, Dallas. As for any thought I might have of Trump coming to my rescue, I assume you're joking. He needs to concentrate on rescuing himself.
If you have real curiosity about our planet and aren't afraid of your own shadow or getting out of your comfort zone, you travel if you can afford it. Traveling is one sure way to learn about the world, in all its glory, and yes, all its wonderful craziness.
Those of us who travel widely (e.g., all of the members of the Travelers Century Club, who've been to 100 countries or more) understand the incredible joys of seeing far-away places, and we don't take unnecessary risks. I'm not going to Yemen right now, or Libya, or the Central African Republic, because those countries truly (and most unfortunately) are unstable.
Note: I'm far likelier to be killed at a Las Vegas concert by an armed lunatic, or hit by a bus, than I am to be killed in any of the 166 countries I've visited so far (which include Iraq, Papua New Guinea, and Iran).
Please open your eyes and start to see what the world has to offer.
2
Excellent analysis! Especially the SNL-part
2
Well, I suppose it depends on who he means by "we" in "We have achieved a special victory". By any and all indications, it is not the US of A!
How is ceding ground to Assad, Russia and Iran is a victory?
How is destroying your own assets and ammunition a victory?
How is withdrawing our troops a victory?
How is betraying our allies a victory?
It all makes sense when we consider who really is "we". All roads with this potus leads to Putin!
2
Trump is rapidly returning the US to pre WW II Fortress America foreign policy. Trump wants to bring troops home, except to protect the oil and votes of evangelicals. He wants to hide behind seas, walls and empty threats of violence, breaking with all our allies. His thuggish understanding of economics is that since we have the “greatest economy in the history of the world”, we must restrict access to it to other nations, attacking them with tariffs. If he is willing to abandon key allies for the praise of dictators, of course he would turn on the Kurds who can’t help him in his next election. Since around 40% of Americans think he is doing a fine job and his congressional allies are prepared to follow him off any cliff, looking to history, it isn’t hard to imagine the future.
2
Why has no one asked the key question:
When will Trump declare martial law and declare himself president for life?
Certainly, the country, nay, the world, needs a man with his strength and vision in these troubled times. His genius and strength in defusing attacks by traitorous Democrats and the immoral liberal media with artfully articulated incoherence, is nothing short of breathtaking. At the very least, it demonstrates that the Constitution is a far weaker defense for our liberty than the inner strength of a man like Trump.
I would also like to see someone ask him, particularly given his uncanny ability to recognize the truth in conspiracy theories "debunked" by the entrenched bureaucrats of the deep state intelligence community, to respond to this ridiculous series of "witch hunts" by answering another question:
Is he, in fact, a witch?
4
I'd love to hearcthe actual transcription of the call between FAT DONALD and Erdogan. My bet is that you'd find that this was all planned out in advance, and that Putin was also altered to the content and purpose of the call, if not actually a participant. Does anyone really believe a word of what FAT DONALD said about the Kurds, Turkey and Syria?
3
It’s as if we’re living in a surreal nightmare, a prelude to decaying civilization and we can’t wake up. Every day a new outrage yet Republicans trip over themselves to crow to the naked king.
This is impossible to understand. As a Canadian, I will never travel to the United States until this horrible experience in ... democracy?... is long, long gone.
4
As an American, I apologize for the insane acts of the nan in the White House.
However, please draw a line between the people of the US (the majority of which did not vote for him and the majority of which want him out and tried) and the evil fool who is called President.
Just as I disagree with the governments of Hungary, Israel, Russia, Turkey etc, I find the people to be warm, friendly, hospitable, and definitely wanting to make connections with those from nations foreign to them. It’s a way that we, the people of the world, can make friends among each other and take another step towards leading our “leaders”.
@Paul Yates Please open your borders wide for/to us.
There is no limit to how much Trump wants to be a dictator like Putin. He could do it all by himself, if only the pesky Democrats would get out of his way. So far, our form of government has prevented Trump from taking our country hostage. But with Barr being as crooked as Trump, we may lose this war. Barr is turning the Justice Department on it's head and reflecting Trump's total rejection of the 2016 investigation into Russia. Before he is finished, Barr will have emasculated all of the employees in the Justice Department and pitted them against each other. Trump could not do this himself, but Barr can and is on his way. Between this and court stacking by McConnell and friends, we stand to lose much of our traditional form of government. And thus TrumPut is born.
3
Nothing Trump does should surprise anyone. He is clearly working to advance the goals of Putin. The only question is why people in this country still are reticent to believe what is so blatantly obvious. Go back and look at the tape of Trump and Putin coming out to hold their press event at Helsinki. It is so apparent that Putin has something on Trump and if you look at Trump's eyes, his face as he is walking out, he looks like a child that has just received a verbal tongue lashing. His shoulders are slumped and he demurs to Putin. The sooner we are rid of this man, the better. He is far from being a patriot.
3
With his every act, Trump demonstrates his loyalty to Putin and Putin's agenda to dismantle Western alliances. It is astonishing to watch Republicans defend the ever increasing multitude of Trump betrayals, whipped into mob behavior to act like thugs - all to keep the truth from being spoken. And the truth is that Trump is a Russian puppet.
2
This is no victory for justice nor peace. And if Trump insists it's a victory, then we must seriously consider him to be a fifth columnist doing Putin's job in creating chaos in world democracies...to hide his own corrupted ways. What a disgrace is Trump for these United States. And the world at large.
2
Trump proves to Americans, day in and day out that Russian interference in our election of 2016 is an absolute. The very chaotic polarizarion of our government and of our citizens is exactly what the Russians were attempting to achieve and here we are. Trump is the worst man to sit in the Oval office in history and the Republican party is like the King without any cloths. Totally exposed!
1
It is hard to believe what we are watching in this entire affair.
It makes me want to see Trump's W-2 from Putin.
I can imagine it contains a bonus of some sort for delivering everything asked and more to the Russian strategy. I can only surmise that a 1099 is forthcoming from Turkey , Iran and Saudi Arabia for services rendered.
Of course Kim Jong Un would pay in crypto so we shall never know.
4
Total insanity and betrayal.
5
Doublespeak! From an article in Wikipedia on Doublespeak:
"Terrence P. Moran of the US National Council of Teachers of English has compared the use of doublespeak in the mass media to a set of laboratory experiments conducted on rats. In the experiment, a sample of rats was first deprived of food, before one group was fed sugar and water and the other group a saccharin solution. Both groups exhibited behavior indicating that their hunger was satisfied, but rats in the second group (which were fed saccharin solution) died of malnutrition. Moran parallels doublespeak's effects on the social masses to the second group of rats upon whom an illusionary effect was created. He also highlights the structural nature of doublespeak, and notes that the mass media and other social institutions employ an active, downward-aimed approach in managing the opinions of society at large."
It is unprecedented, not unique, to use Doublespeak so boldly. To be able to convince your listeners that the Sun revolves around the Earth or the Sky is Red, is so toxic that it should be illegal.
2
With Trump, it is about Russia. Most of the time. We will have to wait until he leaves office. Maybe then, when Putin will have no more use for him, we will learn what "special" things Putin has on him.
Meanwhile, Putin continues to be Trump's boss. Trump might be the only president in the history of this country who will leave his job with no knowledge of geopolitics. I know that many did not have a clue when elected.
4
If you look at the USA, from a geopolitical standpoint, an authoritarian government was inevitable.
One can study Russia and China’s geopolitical issues to better understand what is occurring in America.
In short, Russia has a short growing season, few ports for trade, vast uninhabitable land and a concentrated population center. It’s geography requires it to expand into countries for economic survival. It must control these non Russian people, by a authoritarian government. The folks in the rural, non Russian countries must bend to the will and to farm and feed the Russian urban population centers.
The same is true in China. It also has vast uninhabitable country. Poor peasants in the rural sparsely populated areas are feeding the
Chinese citizens in the wealthy urban centers.
Authoritarian governments in both countries are needed to provide order in a unfair system that drives their economy.
The USA is blessed with geography conducive to great expansive wealth. Three coasts for trade, great river systems, bountiful and long growing seasons.
If you look at the USA, since it moved manufacturing jobs out of the country, you see the end game in the map that shows how Americans vote.
Like Russia and China, America has two economies. The red interior rural areas are now ghost towns while the progressive blue urban areas thrive.
It was only a matter of time before this economic disparity metamorphosed into America’s version of an authoritarian government.
3
When Warren wins the nomination and Trump calls her Pocahontas, I hope she will label him Cut and Run Trump, because that is exactly what he did. Erdogan warned him, and he pulled our troops back to allow this violation of international law, forcing the Kurds to turn to Assad for help, who simply also betrayed them, forcing them from their homes where they have lived peacefully for a hundred years.
Of course, Warren won't call him that. She is an adult. But she has already labeled these actions as betrayal of our allies.
8
Just last week ISIS fighters based in the US controlled part of Syria made an attack on the Syrian Army near Bukamal. Job done they fled back to the protection of Uncle Sam where the Syrian Army couldn't reach them.
The presence of the US doesn't help in the fight against ISIS. It creates artificial borders that ISIS can exploit. That helps ISIS more than the residual fighting harms them.
Let's face it: ISIS is just an excuse. The US is in Syria at the demand of Israel and with the goal to keep the country in disarray as long as possible.
3
One can certainly argue whether the relatively small American military force should have been deployed in Syria to begin with. But there was (and is) broad political and public support for defeating ISIS in Syria given that a similar terrorist group attacked the United States multiple times.
One cannot argue that Trump’s rash decision to abandon our Kurdish allies to Erdogan, Assad and Putin is anything but a disaster for the Kurds, our influence in the Middle East and American trustworthiness. ISIS fighters are also emboldened and will probably regroup.
Trump’s announcement of a “very special” victory is false, like most pronouncements from this administration.
10
Trump is responsible for the lives lost over last few weeks on both Turkish as well as Kurdish side as he initiated the war. According to Trump, America has no business in Middle East which is thousands of miles away and hence he wanted to pull out. Why then he now wants to secure oil fields in eastern Syria?
Trump is bought over by Putin and Erdogan knows that if he goes to Putin, he can get things done as Putin can control Trump. No need to care about America anymore.
7
@Mike
"Trump is responsible for the lives lost over last few weeks on both Turkish as well as Kurdish side as he initiated the war."
You might want to consider blaming the parties who actually did the fighting.
Withdrawing troops from Syria was not a bad idea. But withdrawal affected everyone else. We should have clued them in and orchestrated the withdrawal to do the least damage possible. Trump acted impulsively, quickly and without consultation. There is no excuse for that.
6
Yes, give him full credit.
But not for a victory!
More like an ignominious own goal.
7
"This was a very special victory", said Mr. President Donald Trump.
No one said anything. Nothing worth commenting on had been said, after all.
The president got grumpy, and went to play with his other toys.
Overhead, the stars wheeled about in their paths.
9
Vladimir Putin made a small investment in working to tilt our 2016 election to Donald Trump. It is paying off many, many, many times over.
It is surreal and frightening to have the President of the United States act repeatedly to betray our national security interests. Impeachment cannot come soon enough.
35
The whole situation in Northern Syria was a mess. And our troops were in harm's way. Still, the situation was reasonably stable in the short run. I am no fan of the Kurds. They are holding women and children in unconscionable conditions. Erdogan is undermining the forces of democracy in Turkey. Assad is a monster. And ISIS is as bad as Assad or worse. So you have to wonder why we are endangering our troops. There isn't much in it for us. And we are mostly helping the Kurds, who you too should be no fan of.
Troop withdrawal makes a lot of sense. But we're there and when we get out of there we want to cause the least damage possible.
Efforts to minimize damage often fail. When we left Korea, we abandoned the North to rule by one of the most cruel regimes in history. When we left Vietnam, Pol Pot committed genocide in neighboring Cambodia. Wen we left Iraq, we created the conditions that gave birth to ISIS.
There was no easy way to get out of Northern Syria. But we were obliged to prepare all parties for what we were about to do. We had to do our best to create a manageable situation. In military matters, you pursue your goals while trying to do the least damage possible. Trump woke up one morning and decided to pull out our troops. And by evening the withdrawal was in motion. He ignored the part about the least damage possible. Unethical. Unconscionable.
8
A war is being stopped, that is the main thing right now.
Most of the credit has to be given to Russia in this case. Putin and Lavrov used diplomacy and defensive military means to get to this point.
If the US was left to its own domestic political discourse during the Obama administration and the beginning of this administration there would be a bigger mess over there than there is now.
The Editorial Board refers to Assad as a butcher? He may be, I have never been to Syria. I only know what I get from the news and he looked to me like someone who stood up for his country under tremendous pressure from US Neocons.
A war I being stopped. For whatever reason, the Trump administration had something to do with it. That in itself is not a bad thing.
4
"For whatever reason, the Trump administration had something to do with it. That in itself is not a bad thing."
Well it was "a bad thing" precisely because Trump's action caused the problem -- as night follows day- on the instructions given by Ergdogan in his now infamous phone call. He got Pence to clear up the mess but the stain still shows - in the form of unnecessary deaths and continuing chaos. So much for having an alliance with the US!
4
@G Rayns
The important part to me is that a war is being stopped.
OMG. When you start a fire to distract the public from your other self made disasters, then after being told you’re burning down your own house, rush in to put out the last few flames (after the place has mostly burned to the ground), then praise yourself and take credit for your great achievement, that’s not a bad thing? What is wrong with people who think that is anything but the stupidest move ever made by a US president in the history of the country- far more idiotic than starting a war over non existent WMD.
How does anyone, especially Trump, think anyone other than Putin, Turkey, and Syria benefits from this. How can anyone, especially Trump, think this has not diminished the United States.
12
And don't forget its certainly special for Iran also. And the leaders of all of these countries are still laughing at what the naive fool sitting in the Oval Office did. Maybe Representative Scalise and his colleagues should have banged on the door of the Oval Office to tell President Trump how horrendous his decision was instead of disrupting a meeting at the Capitol.
344
@Howard Herman Please don´t fall prey to the idea, Trump is a "naive fool" He is a Russian Asset, doing efficiently the job he is paid to do!
12
@Howard Herman Surely you are joking about the Republican House Representatives banking on the door of the Oval Office!
@Howard Herman Nobody in Iran is laughing at Trump. We are fed up with the U.S in general. Trump didn't invade Iraq, or blast Libya and Syria to smithereens. He's simply a continuation of Imperial Hubris (great book by Michael Scheuer).
The problems go far deeper than Trump.
5
Trump's "very special victory" in Syria is actually a defeat on all fronts, and no matter how much he lies about it everyone, even his most ardent supporters, knows different. This is what happens when you have a serial liar in the White House -- we know he is lying, his enablers know he is lying, he knows he is lying, our allies know he is lying and our enemies know he is lying.
402
@Christy You are overestimating his fans - if he tells them it's a big victory, they will believe it.
20
@Christy
Two questions- why are troops being diverted to Saudi Arabia? What would you say after the next 9/11 because we had given up long-term security planning?
I am very sad that a fool like Trump is in the oval office and I am even sadder that there are millions of citizens who are buying his snake oil.
17
@Christy I'm not sure he knows he is lying. He thinks everything he says is the truth, at least in the moment, because of his "great and unmatched wisdom."
11
Trump should have given the Kurds a heads up on his plans but it's good that we are out of there. It's not worth risking American lives in religious wars. We should get out of Afghanistan for the same reason.
19
@BobC
Well, yes, if the troops were out of the Middle East. But instead, King trump has elected to send double that amount to help the Kingdom of S-A with their fight with Yemeni's and Iranians. Which will solve nothing.
Had he left the 1000 there - until a smart, calculated, measured withdrawal could have been done - there wouldn't have been the hundreds of deaths that have already occurred, nor the war crimes, nor the escape of ISIS terrorists.
How one does things, matters.
176
@BobC
Those 1000 troops, plus 20,000 Kurds were responsible for defeating (geographically) ISIS. Remember ISIS?
The ones that videotaped be-headings, created a modern "Caliphate" and slaughtered civilians all around the Middle East?
Now we have handed Putin a whole new era in the Middle East that he had been salivating about for a decade.
The war we were waging in Northern Syria had nothing to do with religious war. It had to do with defeating a brutal, fundamentalist threat to the entire world.
86
@BobC
"religious wars" Really? The Kurds are Moslem, the Syrians are Moslem & the Turks are Moslem. I would have thought that their ethnic differences combined with the regional history going back to the Ottoman Empire would explain a lot more than religion would.
38
I just got back yesterday from Syria as part of the first American our tour group to be granted a visa by the Syrian government. We entered Syria from Lebanon (where we had been touring until the vast protests and country-wide road blockages in Lebanon brought our touring there to a halt).
While in Lebanon we had an hour-long audience with the bishop of the Maronite community, at his residence. He raged at the conduct of the U.S. in Syria and said he is at a loss to understand our foreign policy in the region, and why the U.S. is no longer leading the world.
When we arrived in Damascus (which was perfectly calm because it is nowhere near the fighting in the northeast of the country), one of our local guides pointed out that from his/Syria's perspective, the Kurds have no right to claim a portion of Syria by fiat as their own, which he claimed is what the Kurds were doing. This was a perspective I hadn't considered before.
One more thing: lest anyone think that Russia's presence in Syria is limited to the northern border area, we saw Russian troops (and Russian tanks) in the heart of old Damascus, just outside the Omayyid Mosque, as well as at the western Syria border with Lebanon. Our very knowledgeable and well-connected Lebanese-Syrian guide had no idea why the Russians had a presence in in Damascus and at the western Syria border with Lebanon. So, yes, America's withdrawal from Syria certainly seems to be a major victory for Putin.
414
@ALB
I'm a little puzzled as to why an American citizen would be going to Syria if he were not in the military or working for the State department. Tour groups now have permission to enter Syria? With fighting still going on?Doesn't sound right to me.
17
@VMG
I've got photos of our tour group on my iPhone to prove it. And no, I'm not a member of the military or working for the State Department. We were the FIRST American tour group to be given permission to enter the country, and it took a phenomenal amount of effort to get the visas. To my knowledge the Syrian government has not granted visas (yet) to any other American tour groups. All 10 of us in our group are simply travel addicts. Two people in our group were trying to complete their quest to see all 193 official countries of the world. I went on the trip because Damascus is a fabulous ancient city, with magnificent, UNESCO designed mosques and palaces. Believe it or not, there really are Americans who travel just because the world is a very interesting place, and they want to see it.
96
@ALB - would you be surprised if you were arrested for 'spying' or such, as has happened to American tourists in North Korea, and then used as a pawn in a game of hostage-holding? Would you then expect Trump to come to your rescue? Or would you, if kidnapped by any of the criminal gangs and militias in the country, expect the US or your relatives to raise money to pay a ransom? There is a reason why most United States citizens do not "travel the world" into barely stabilized countries in the throes of civil unrest. Perhaps, in the interest of "seeing the world", you should have stayed in Lebanon. It sounds very, very interesting just now.
23
Donald Trump's chutzpah is breathtaking. He repeats a now well-established pattern:
1. Trump creates a crisis
2. Trump gets pushback from Republicans
3. Trump backtracks, but not fast enough to contain damage
4. Trump declares victory
People have died in Syria
Homes have been destroyed
A major American ally has been betrayed
Putin and Russia have now moved into the region to take over as the major international power there.
Iran is given a reprieve
So, Trump praising himself for solving his own self-created crisis, while the ruins of Northern Syria and the stable Kurdish community languish is somewhat disgusting, and certainly not praiseworthy in any way.
719
@William O, Beeman Sounds like some historical situations from the 1930's.
17
@William O, Beeman
You left out one of the things not mentioned often enough:
We are at risk of the freeing of 10,000-plus ISIS fighters capture by our partners the Kurds after much death and sacrifice.
33
@William O, Beeman The Country may survive, very much weakened by the present illness.
But we must find a way to stop the sucking chest wound of the Democracy that is Donald J. Trump- TODAY.
13
A small number of US troops are staying to protect oil fields in Syria. That says it all about where Trump's priorities really are when it comes to the Middle East. While I am not surprised, I am disappointed that oil is more important than our allies.
340
@KC Have you listened to him? He talks only about our excellent equipment, we have the best equipment, he never praises personnel, to him anyone in the military is a chump
40
@KC If it doesn't promise a profit, it's invisible to Trump. Money is all that matters.
26
@Entre
Does the US need Syrian Oil ? I thought it had the largest reserves in the world.
16
The Editorial Board is right. Trump has made quite a mess of this Syrian withdrawal.
But where was the Editorial Board when Trump moved a full US combat brigade into Syria? Moving a military force across the border of a sovereign state when that force is not in hot pursuit of an enemy and not defending itself is an act of war without the constitutionally required declaration of war.
Every president since Lyndon Johnson has taken greater and greater liberty with the powers of the executive branch. We are now at the point where presidents unilaterally decide to get us into wars and only turn to congress to fund them.
The American people and our views are considered irrelevant. But that's not what the founders thought. And that's why they made no distinction between the power to wage war and the authority to declare war.
That power was and is in the hands of congress because they are closer to the people than the executive branch.
Ultimately it is the people who must fight and die and the people who must sacrifice to pay for wars.
As bad as Trump's policies have been, the Editorial Board has endorsed a totally unjustified and in my judgment, illegal approach to the national war making authority.
We need to reign in Trump, reign in future presidents and reign in those who think that foreign affairs is an excuse for ignoring the constitution.
13
@Drspock I doubt a single BCT has ever been deployed to Syria. Hundreds of SOF and supporting troops at most.
@Drspock You expect Presidents to declare war against an enemy who is fighting asymmetric warfare using civilians as a shield. Terrorists like ISIS need to be pursued everywhere. If Obama attacked Syria's Assad regime to conquer, liberate and occupy the country your point would be valid.
@Drspock Not to rein on your parade.
The Trump Administration makes the US complicit in a massive exercise in ethnic cleansing. This is sad & appalling.
There's every indication that President Trump Trump, through wilful blunder followed by an unwillingness to admit & correct his error, fell into this complicity, or he abruptly kleenexed the US's strong but implicit obligations to its longstanding ally, the Kurds, because he saw domestic political advantage because US voters are tired of foreign involvements.
Further, Canada & the other traditional allies of the US now clearly know that they cannot rely on the US if circumstances governing a longstanding common alliance commitment change & the current domestic political interests of the President suggest that it's time for the US to unilaterally cut & run.
16
@bob adamson
An example of the collateral effect of the day to day vascelation of President Trump culminating in the brokering of the Syrian truce is the question whether the US still supports the NATO commitment to the 3 Baltic States that an attack on any of these States by Russia is a military confrontation with NATO.
NATO buttresses that commitment by stationing small battle groups in each of these 3 countries. Canada leads the group in Latvia where Canada's contingent is supported by military contingents from several other NATO countries.
Questions whether the US commitment continues arose earlier & no clear answer was given then.
Recent US response to the Turkish incursion has the collateral effect of implying that the US might unilaterally choose to remain aloof & uncommitted if Russia threatens incursions or other hostile actions in the Baltic region. In turn, this might encourage Russia to make such threats.
Where does this leave Latvia, Estonia & Lithuania, the NATO Battle Groups stationed there & the credibility of NATO if the US is seen as unbound by its commitments & inclined to take unpredicted unilateral steps that make no sense to its allies & place the military forces of those allies in the Baltic countries exposed to being overrun or forced to make a dishonourable retreat?
3
I read Orwell's 1984 in high school, over 50 years ago. I now observe daily the creation of a "newspeak", where the President betrays an ally and calls it "special victory." He extorts another world leader, releases documentary evidence and calls it a "perfect" conversation.
Like the novel's Big Brother, Trump has realized that he can say or do virtually anything, and there is meaningful portion of the populace so in thrall with his authoritarian manner that they will contort themselves and their principles to find a logic that supports him. The truth I'm witnessing is stranger and scarier than Orwell's fiction.
67
Initially, Mr. Trump, threatened Turkey, if they crossed the border and attacked the Kurds. Later, sanctions were imposed on Turkey.
With our decision to leave Syria, we have allowed Russia to come in. The Russians have now established themselves in Syria, virtually, making known their foothold in the MIddle East.
We are no longer talking about Iran, or their nuclear program. In the newly redrawn map of 'partners and friends', Turkey, Iran and Syria are now under the umbrella of Russia. Possibly, now or later, Iraq to join the alliance.
Sanctions on Turkey have been withdrawn. The Kurds, our ally, and forgotten, are now left at the mercy of the Russians, Turks and the Syrians. No guarantee on their safety.
We have withdrawn our leadership in the MIddle East. Our traditional allies - Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE have to figure it out, if they want to deal with the new players in the region.
6
The one thing that scares me more than Trump remaining in the Presidency is Pence taking over after Trump's removal.
Perhaps the Democrats can get their act together and retake the presidency, successfully impeaching Trump just before the inauguration.
11
As someone who lived in the Mid-East
Syria was lost in 2011 when Obama declared "Assad must go" then failed to follow up. Neither establishing a no fly zone nor delivering anti aircraft weapons to the rebels
Syria was lost for good in 2014 when Putin swallowed the Ukraine , and Obama refused to deliver the weapons the Ukraine needed to deliver the weapons the Ukraine asked for.
Putin, having read Obama as a paper tiger, moved into Syria and rescued Assad
For more ,
"White House rebuffs Ukraine appeal for weapons
USA Today, Sept 28, 2014
"Defying Obama, Many in Congress Press to Arm Ukraine"
NY Times, June 11. 2015
Note : They failed
"Trump administration approves lethal arms sales to Ukraine ."
Washington Post, Dec 2017
For all his faults, and there are many Trump is conducting a tougher policy against Russia than Obama who caved
5
@t
How tidy of you. Please include the information that Obama had domestic enemies, the Republican house and Senate; who would have given him no more help than trump gave the Kurds.
2
@talesofgenji Despite everything that Obama did, he did not give Syria to the Russians, damage our relationship with Turkey for no benefit and get a valuable ally slaughtered. It take a narcissist to do that.
2
@talesofgenji
You've set up a false dichotomy. I won't argue that Obama might have messed up the initial Syrian response. I would argue that the context he was working under was quite different. That being said, Obama's error then does not cancel out trump's ridiculously unplanned and catastrophic error now. trump has blood on his hands as a result of this.
There was ZERO urgency to remove the 1000 or so advisers at this point. It has served no purpose for the US (remember 2000 troops were sent to SA, so the fallacious argument about taking US troops out of harm's way doesn't wash). It has compromised US integrity. It has allowed war crimes and hundreds of deaths to occur - needless deaths. Deaths that would not have occurred if a slow and planned withdrawal had occurred. It has increased Russia's influence in Syria. Coincidentally - you chastise Obama's initial error but say nothing about trump solidifying Putin's presence there.
Putin and Erdogan are stronger now than they were before this move. All of this is irrefutable - no matter how you try to obfuscate with tales from the past.
1
By now everyone has seen photos, or read stories of the abandoned Kurds spitting, and throwing stones and rotten fruit at U.S. troops as they pulled out of northern Syria.
The troops did not deserve it: they lived and came to know with the people on whom they have now been forced to turn their backs at Donald Trump’s orders, but who did not want to go. By all accounts they are as angry and heartbroken as the beleaguered people whose fate has been left to the whims of Bashar al-Assad, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump is a notable coward, both in his own avoidance of military service, how he went about securing draft deferment, in his business dealings and political maneuvering and pronouncements. He is, in fact, like the passenger on a struggling airliner who takes comfort in the morbid thought that if he’s going to die in the next few minutes, a couple of hundred innocent people will also die along with him.
It’s not enough for Trump to be the only coward on the airliner or in the room; he must make everyone else appear as cowards, too.
To paraphrase Hamlet, Trump’s lack of a conscience doth make cowards of us all.
27
Calling attention to the NYT's sister CNN, which has published a different opinion, one which bears reading by everyone. Food for thought there from someone who was there.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/24/opinions/syria-kurds-trump-withdrawal-kent/index.html
4
@NYT Reader
I could show you similar articles from servicemen and women that served in Syria that have a different opinion. As such, it's not conclusive.
Many people agree that withdrawing from Syria may be a good thing. But doing it, without a plan, without a stated objective is ridiculous. A lot of blood was spilled last week that didn't need to be lost. Abandoning the Kurds in such a way as to leave them hanging - is dishonourable. The US should aspire to more.
That's the tragedy of this fiasco. History will tell how great a blunder this might become. Personally, I hope and prey that Israel won't be the ones that pay the most - since several of the Arab-Israeli wars were initiated in Syria.
Ps. The author of the opinion wasn't there - but his wife served and perished there. And perhaps this tragedy affected his perspective - which is understandable.
1
@WestSider
Just for fun:
“America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests”
― Henry Kissinger
In all Trump's victories, the bad guys won
27
A fruitcake. 25 45.
8
Correction to my post
"when Putin swallowed the Crimea, then the Eastern Part of the Ukraine"
For some reason this did not make it in my post
The remainder is accurate
1
Trump probably thinks he is now a lock for the Nobel Peace Prize.
13
While it's clear that Trump is a dispicable abomination, Republican members of Congress who support his cruel and lawless behavior are no better. There seems to be no decency in these Republicans, who just follow "orders" like the worst Nazis and Stalinists before and during World War II.
The state of our union is very parlous these days, and the Editorial Board's comment that our current Administration is like a “Saturday Night Live” parody with lines like, “We’ve done something that’s very, very special,” is so very sadly true.
I don't think we can wait until 2020. At the rate Trump is going, he will have us embroiled in some kind of terrible conflagration where precious young American lives are lost following the Commander in Chief's orders.
26
I can easily imagine that after the cameras and crews left the Putin- Erdogan press conference, they turned to each other with vodka glasses raised high and toasting their American lapdog "pal" for his "peace in our times" stunt; the easiest and most consequential victory since WWII at the expense of the hapless Kurds, our once valued brothers in arms against ISIS.
17
@Rudy Ludeke
Yes. It’s not funny, but we out here really do hear those toasts and backslappings.
At this point we can only hope they’ll tire of the game, but how could they when their having this much fun.
3
It’s amazing and mysterious how every cackhanded and or stupid thing DJT does against advice ends up benefiting Putin.
30
Speechless.
7
Donald Trump has turned victory into defeat, and conceded the US accomplishments made over the past 5 years in blood and assets in Syria. He has also deserted our allies, the Kurds and the Israelis. Why did he do this? Because he has no mental prowess, no acumen, no sense of patriotism, no strategies, no goals, no plans. Trump is defined as an extreme present hedonist (google it!), who lives in and for the self gratification of the moment. He is incapable of thinking 20 minutes ahead. Trump is the personification of a fool's fool.
19
The United States of America. Now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Russian “Republic”. Chief Executive Officer Vladimir Putin. Chief Lackey Donald Trump.
27
Anyone else thinking of "Wag the Dog"? or "1984"?
5
@diane Actually, The Caine Mutiny is closer.
1
Oh, so special....This is a lesson in narcissism.
4
All roads lead to Russia.
12
Trump and the entire GOP are guilty of treason.
15
Donald isn't really a Soviet double agent. He just plays on on TV.
6
Please let this coward end up in Guantanamo and throw away the key. All the fines and penalties against his fraudulent business transactions should go to
1) Tortured migrants on our southern border
2) Surviving families of butchered Kurd USA Allies in Syria
3) Desperate Ukraine army fighting to keep Putin's jackals out of Kiev
12
It seems that the Russians have a hold of our president, must probable they have the goods on him, KOMPROMATT
8
I assert that this is an open act of sabotage of the USA for his true master Vladimir Putin. He did not bring those soldiers home he abandoned our allies and sent those soldiers into far greater danger. And of course with his traitorous GOP helping him he is lying about everything and hiding as much as he can.
19
Trump's tells for lying and reading something under duress, forced upon him by his staff, were clearly on display with his Syria announcement.
The sniffling.
The monotone.
The dead-eyed look at the teleprompter.
The obvious ad libs.
GOP, this loser is wholly on you. Your party should be in the wilderness for 50 years. And it would be were it not for the lying FOX NEWS, gerrymandering, and other things you do to specifically make voting and representation more difficult.
25
Putin won the war without a shot fired, aided and abetted my trump and the republican traitors. Brilliant.
15
the only country Trump is making great again is Russia
14
Donald Trump is a very sick person. He declares victory over the dead bodies of our allies, the Kurds, that he allowed to be slaughtered. What I really want to say cannot be said here except Karma will be his reward.
11
@TIm Love I wholeheartedly agree. It is despicable how Trump praises himself in light of the suffering of the thousands of people caused by this blowhard and the weasels in the shadows.
Nothing Trump does surprises me anymore. My only surprise is that people still support him.
22
Trump was elected by deplorable to undermine our democracy. Nothing surprises me about any of this. This is all very special indeed. I will keep thinking special thoughts for our president.
While waiting for the BBC Sports segment about the Champions League, I have had the misfortune of seeing Trump speak live on international TV.
I have 2 questions —
1. Why is Trump breathing through his mouth?
2. Why is he sweating like a pig?
These are honest questions and I really would like to know the answers.
Thanks.
17
@Opinioned!
That’s what happens to him when he knows he has been rolled, even if he continues to lie about it.
I understand that impeachment is a political process, not a legal one. And that “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” is not specifically defined.
After reading this editorial and having endured 33 months of the Trump presidency, I am disturbed that the irrationality, ignorance, pathological lying, diplomatic incompetence and bizarre public behavior of Donald Trump, in an of of themselves, do not constitute grounds for the congress to remove him from office.
The 25th Amendment is flawed. The president selects the Vice President and he appoints the members of his cabinet. Expecting these folks to declare the president incapable of executing his duties is therefore unlikely.
Our founding fathers obviously never seriously considered the possibility that a man so unbalanced, so lacking in character, so unethical, so deceitful, so afflicted with personality disorders, so lacking in political experience and SO completely unfit for
office would ever become the POTUS.
Donald Trump will apparently be impeached and will hopefully be convicted and removed from office.
But what did we learn from this?
How do we prevent this disaster from reoccurring?
To a great degree the continuation of American democracy depends upon the wisdom and common sense of the electorate. In 2016, this safeguard failed, and the quirky electoral college sealed the deal — disaster!
Our country needs a method to protect itelf from another absolutely unfit president in the future.
23
@Tom W I find it troubling as well how much damage Trump will still be able to do if he wanted to. The guy has completely lost touch with reality. There should be a short monthly questioning of the president on accepted facts in regards to world politics as well as US politics in particular. I think most would agree that Trump would not have passed any of these tests if they had been conducted in recent months or even years. Test results of less than 10% correct answers should immediately give all powers to the VP for the remainder of the month. Problem solved.
4
One person, one vote. Eliminate electoral college!
Don’t impeach Trump- he’ll galvanize his base who’ll turn out to vote in droves while some democrats will hold theirs because the candidate is too progressive or not so enough!
Please not another 4 years of indignation, incompetency, indecency and lies. Don’t impeach, vote!
1
It would be simplier to say Trump created an self-imposed crisis and did a very poor job of solving the problem. He threw the Kurds under the bus and ceded Syria to Iran and Russia. Then he proclaimed a glorious victory when it is really an unmitigated disaster that will haunt us and later administrations for decades.
13
@albert "ceded Syria to Iran and Russia."
You've been reading the Times too long.
Continues to act like an agent for his favorite autocrats.
He certainly knows what he is doing so he either craves approval from these people and./or is simply thumbing his nose at all of us.
3
At his next "very special" announcement, Trump will beam to the cameras and proclaim that Mexico has finally conceded to the demands of the "best president of all times" to pay for the border wall.
2
So, so "very special"! They're popping champagne in Ankara, Damascus, Tehran, and Moscow. Russia and the Kurds have now allowed Syrian President to regain control of most of his country including the border with Iran. ISIS prisoners are on the loose and the Kurds face an uncertain fate at the hands of the Turks and perhaps even Assad. How special does it get...if you're, as Hillary claimed, "Putin's puppet." It seems that "what Vladimir wants is Donald's command." So, look for more "very special" Putin presents.
5
Sort of like an arsonist who wants credit for putting out the fire.
16
General Bone Spurs at his best--lying, exaggerating, obfuscating and quickly forgetting the facts.
Not my president.
13
"What you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening."
--D. Trump, July 24, 2018
I wish.
11
Call in the guys with the white coats, uh -- several of them, extra extra large.
8
Is it too far-fetched to imagine a scenario in which Putin, knowing that he has God-knows-what on Trump, says, "Donald, you are going to leave Syria. You are going to withhold aid to Ukraine. You are going to make the case that Ukraine attacked the US in the 2016 election. You, of course, will be impeached and possibly removed from office. But I'm telling you that you have no choice. Besides, you have made a lot of money with me."
9
We must not forget that although "Kremlin Man Of the Century" abandoned the Kurds, the Kurds never helped Washington cross the Delaware in 1776. Furthermore, you know "The Chosen One" loves America because he just built a beautiful wall in Colorado to keep the Mexicans out. Above all, everything he does benefits himself at the expense of America. With Trump, it's all about power or money and we are just his subjects.
10
Letter from Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump to be published
Dear Mr President Trump,
I along with the the great people of Russia applaud your carefully thought out decision to pull the American military forces out of Northern Syria immediately allowing the peace loving Russian military to establish itself in the region without any further conflict with the great Military of the United States which you have made greater since you became the President. In addition it is commendable that you have generously given 5 full days for the Kurdish people to evacuate the area. This brings your vision of Making America Great Again so close to reality. You are the first President of the United States who has realized because of the genious you posses that it is not important to honor the commitment to the allies when these allies have not done anything for your country. You may consider applying the same principle to your allies in Europe and Asia. As you have repeatedly stated these allies have taken advantage of your country. We feel it is time you also pull out your forces from these allied countries. Russia will always stand behind you in such decisions.
Lastly you have proved by your recent actions in in Northen Syria that you are tough and not a fool.
Sincerely, your friend
Vladimir Putin
1
The next Democrat administration should investigate "to the bone" all this political contributions to whoever coming from Russia, Ukraine or any other foreign sources.
4
Leave it to Trump to snatch the defeat from the jaws of victory and the declare himself worthy of an award for gallantry. And leave it to the Republican to applaud and declare him worthy of such an award. I am really tired of such winnings and so is the American public. Please someone give this man-child a medal from a Cracker Jack box and call it a day. Let us move on to some serious business of running this country and tackle some serious problems like global warming, poverty, gun violence, education, homelessness and poverty.
6
Two Trump Towers in Istanbul, none in Kurdistan, none in Syria. Nothing more needs to be said.
6
I believe that Neville Chamberlain called the Munich Agreement a great triumph of British diplomacy.
4
Erdogan is continuing with his campaign to murder every single Kurdish man, woman, and child.
His extremist militia forces, are committing atrocities non-stop.
It is Ethnic Cleansing.
It is Genocide.
It is Crimes Against Humanity.
Erdogan was given the Green Light to murder, by Trump.
Trump has substantial properties in Turkey, and he wants to have more.
Erdogan told him flat out, "Let me kill the Kurds, and you can put your name on another hotel."
Trump is allowing the extermination of the Kurds, so that he can line his own pockets.
10
And we bet all the soldier and civilian deaths he prevented as a result of his U.S. pullout is "very special" too.
1
As Nancy Pelosi said to Trump's face: "All your roads lead to Putin." Proud of her to confront him with his duplicity.
30
Mount Rushmore awaits. I have no first hand knowledge of Syria, but I read. That puts me light years ahead of Trump. Impeach and remove.
3
It's going to get very hard to parody Trump's tap dance routine.
4
Buckle up...here comes the unhinged, chosen one. After all, He is a stable genius, so some say . He alone can save us. He alone will rule!
5
Trumputin strikes again. Although the media are decorously avoiding that connection, Trump clearly made a move that was of great help to Putin. The Petrograd Presidency continues. As treasonous as it is criminal and disgraceful.
11
@Daibhidh
Can’t fool a Chicagoan.
Write on.
1
Once again, the ignorant, myopic, deeply stupid Trump got played like a fiddle by Erdogan and Putin. Unlike his equally profound failure with Kim Jong-un, where Kim got everything he wanted with Trump standing there like a slow kid who missed the bus, this debacle resulted in human casualties. The ‘stable genius’ capitulated to everything Putin, Erdogan and Assad desired. And this is putting America first? Apparently Trump us having trouble counting to One. He’s like the pyromaniac who sets fire to an elementary school during classes, waits half an hour, then calls the fire department, only to declare, “I saved a lot of lives, folks. No one else could have achieved this success.” The next time Trump issues a sick order similar to the one he sent out on October 6, I sincerely hope military commanders defy his orders. Make up an excuse — any excuse — to not follow his insane edicts. He is determined to ruin the world. Don’t let him get away with it. Step up, military commanders; save us and all the countries on Earth from this psychotic tyrant.
6
@H. Clark
Agree. History will approve of a military reinterpretation of Trump’s disorders.
As our speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi so aptly and succinctly put it regards Trump, 'all roads lead to Putin.'
For pity sake, show us his tax returns! And make this corrupt excuse for an administration release the phone and secret meeting transcripts between Putin and his puppet, if they haven't been shredded.
9
trump's GOP supporters have been lusting for years to destroy the relatively peaceful and relatively prosperous postwar establishment.
It kills them that they can't reimpose serfdom on immigrants, the poor, minorities and progressives.... while they make off with the spoils for themselves and those like them.
The 'Rule of Law' is an impediment to them, and as trump thumbs his nose at the very concept of law, and as our illegitimate president turns the courts into a source of INJUSTICE, they cheer.
Pity the ignorant buffoons..... They don't seem to realize the treasures they've been given. Rather they squeal with delight as they squander our hard-earned fortune.
It's a virulent strain of insanity.
2
Trump will be the first president tried for crimes against humanity in the world court in The Hague.
6
Every American should be concerned that because of Mr. Trumps action in Syria we are less safe. His actions have allowed for the slaughter innocent lives. To gloat and call this a victory for the USA is repugnant.I wonder if he realizes that he is viewed as an inarticulate buffoon. He has weakened America ,brought shame and dishonor to the presidency.
7
Somehow I don't think this is going to qualify Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
6
"In [the loser]’s bizarre account, he claimed to have done Turkey and the Kurds a “great service” by creating a 20-mile-wide safe zone between them — “an interesting term, safe zone,” the [occupant] mused, as if he had just come up with a radically new concept. (The zone was in fact negotiated by Turkey and the Russians.)"
Well, the full sentence he babbled on the matter is "In any event, by the moves that we’ve made, we are achieving a much more peaceful and stable area between Turkey and Syria, including a 20-mile-wide safe zone." And since the loser IS a Russian agent, he can technically claim that "we" did it without (here's a rarity!) lie or contradiction—apart of course from the zone's actual safety, as he alludes immediately after—because by "we" he means his employer putin and fellow employees.
Trevor Noah was a bit off the mark. The loser is not America's First African President; he's Russia's First Republican Vice-President.
All roads do lead to Moscow.
Russian Republicans will have lotsa splanin to do. They’ll trot out the usual suspects, but unlike Claude Raines, they are not patriots.
History will brand them as traitors, if our post truth world still hews to recording our history at all.
2
NY Times opinions are so biased it is getting ridiculous even for people who do not support Trump.
What should the United States do? Abandon a critical NATO ally because of a few tribal Kurdish fighters with strong ties to the PKK?
United States designates PKK as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The United States breached her own laws by knowingly providing weapons and financial aid to PKK, an FTO, in the fight against ISIS. This is something to be ashamed of.
The so-called "commander" Mazloum is a rebranded PKK militant, he is not a cute liberal ally. The PKK killed thousands of civilians including children and women. The PKK uses suicide bombers and and child soldiers. The PKK finances its activities by human and drug trafficking. There are reports of Kurdish women being raped at PKK camps.
Trump's policy is correct here. If the ultimate objective is to leave Middle East, Russia will fill the void. The Russian influence needs to be balanced. Turkey's NATO membership is even more critical at this juncture.
2
The line is clear,
-trumps multiple (money laundering) real estate deals with Russians starting back in the 1980’s
-trumps time with Putin during his “beauty pageants” in Moscow with people peeing on beds
-Russian interface in the 2016 elections to promote trump
- trumps collusion with Russia to get elected - now president, trumps attacks our democracy, system of law and our NATO allies - Basically anything that Putin hates
- total surrender of our position in Syria, handing US military bases over to the Russians
- systematic ongoing efforts by trump to divided our country and undermine our system of government
And what’s next my patriotic Republican friends?
We need to impeach is corrupt, highly compromised Putin puppet trump - now
2
Trump is indeed Very Special.
2
Trump’s a pawn and knows it. He’s no match for the likes of Erdogan or Putin or even Assad. Nonetheless, he throws (out of non-respect) a show for us, to suggest otherwise. Actually, what else can he do in trying at least to tread water? It’s pathetic and embarrassingly unimaginative ... truly. And, of course, he has some “this-for-that” supporters who know the side of the bread for them that is buttered on.
This Trump cease- fire 'victory ' on the Turkey/ Syrian border is also great news for Abdel el-Sisi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, Ayman al- Zawahri, Mohammed bin Salman and Hasan Rouhani.
2
Putin got the right man for the job.
8
Basically, there is nothing to report on about our failing government since the coward prince of spurs took office. I have never been so bored with the news and check in only every few days.
I figure if something changes from the dark offal state we are enjoying, I'll hear about it on the street.
4
A few more "victories" like this one and we will all be speaking Russian.
5
What's next? Pulling out of NATO? Bagging the UN? The mind boggles...
2
Trump loves to make a total mess of something not broken, wait for a bit, act like he did something in response, and then declare a victory. Wash, rinse, repeat. He's a terrible business man and a non-existent politician, period. Unqualified to tie my shoe, let alone lead my country. Oh, add on top his debilitating narcissism.
5
For the rest of us our guts tell us when to find a toilet. For Trump it tells him what to do with people's lives. Reflection, thinking, considering consequences, gaining knowledge, consulting with people knowledgeable about options and the area: not one of these is part of Trump's way of operating. They are part of every normal person's processes. But with Trump, after checking in with his gut, it's time to look in the mirror and choose the appropriate expression. Do I want to look angry, sullen, petulant? Or do I want to look unnaturally excited, satisfied, or jovial at my own wonderfulness? What a sick, sick man. And what a pathetic party that slavishly tells him that the Emperor wears such wonderful clothes.
3
I challenge everyone who reads the NYT to sign up for an account on Fox News (https://my.foxnews.com — it’s free) and start posting TRUTHFUL COMMENTS in response to the lies they are publishing. This is an excellent way to communicate truth to the regular Fox news consumers. If every person who thinks President Trump is a disaster did this, we could truly influence for the better our neighbors who live in the Fox News desert.
2
So now I understand why he is always saying you are gonna get tired of winning.
I am whipped like a rented mule.
2
We underestimate DJT at our peril. History will probably place him alongside Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and those despots that achieved through clever thuggery, mixed with a knack for harnessing the worst sentiments of their peoples, a surprising level of murders, genocides, and mob rule. All the pieces of the puzzle fit. The roads that now lead to Moscow are the same ones that led to the death camps, the blood lands of Europe, and the killing fields of Cambodia.
Eject, reject, fight against this destiny.
5
As Trump takes his victory lap, it’s becoming clearer to me why the U.S. is not a signatory to the International Criminal Court. What has happened, and most likely will happen, to the Kurds can only be described as a war crime for which no one will be ultimately held accountable.
Big win for Trump, Erdogan, Putin, and Assad; huge tragedy for the Kurds and those of us who feel betrayed by a country that claims to be a beacon of hope and freedom to the rest of the world.
9
I recall President Trump fantasizing about how he would run into a burning building to save the residents. In this case, he might fantasize how his very special diplomacy has saved the Kurds (NOT). But he fails to mention that he was the arsonist who set the fire. November 2020 cannot come soon enough.
11
I am very troubled by Pence's dealings here. How can he possibly rise to be P.O.T.U.S.? How far do his misdeeds go?
23
"Mission Accomplished" pales into major insignificance - and that doesn't diminish that humanitarian catastrophe. Another complete and utter humiliation of this president who has a hand up his back by his Russian minder and puppet master. At the expense of the Kurds. Who's next? It pays to be an enemy of the US and it does not pay to be an ally.
7
I suspect that Trump is "owned" by the oligarchs and Putin and fears what happens if he crosses them. Russian influence is the throughline from 2016 election,to Mueller findings, to Ukraine, to Syria, to impeachment, to Trump family enrichment and who knows what else?
8
Everything that happened after real estate developer, Donald Trump, playing President, moved our troops out of there was negotiated by Putin and Erdogan. Trump had nothing to do with the aftermath of the extraordinary mess he made there.
5
He is an alternative human living in an alternative reality and he is president.
It still boggles my mind.
8
@Technic Ally And he has dragged us into the same rabbit hole. You are fortunate to live in Toronto. We would go if your country would take us since my country ceased to exist on Jan 20, 2017.
3
The Kurds were small time allies, but they were fighting on our behalf. To have a person like Trump, a draft dodger from a family of draft dodgers cut them off like renter that defaulted is an insult to them and to all Americans who have, or are serving the nation.
No Trump has EVER served ANY nation...EVER!
18
Here's the thing that we are desperately trying not to acknowledge about President Trump...
It's not about politics. It's not about the office of the President. It's not about a business person.
It's about an emotionally immature, manipulative, divisive, unaware, uninformed, possibly clinically narcissistic person.
And that person is at the head of the most powerful nation in the world, and heretofore the leader of the free world.
And he exhibits frequent unreliable, erratic, manipulative and abusive behavior.
When we say "it's just politics," or "it's family," or "it's business," that means we are side-stepping uncomfortable truths and realities. We are ill equipped to handle this behavior in our politics...because we've not handled this type of behavior in our personal lives.
Trump is the family member who everyone works around, humors, excuses, condones, avoids…pretending he or she is not the damaging, destructive, abusive person he or she really is.
What is the culmination of this avoidance of our familial “elephant in the room?” A leader who is effectively holding this nation, the world, and its peoples…hostage.
16
All very disturbing, but, a week after the Justice Department finding of no criminal intent or culpability on Hillary's part, this reader is still waiting for the Time's sober minded mea culpa for having elevated her emails to an issue of highest importance relating to the most capable, best prepared candidate ever to run for the presidency of the United States.
9
All excellent points and well explained. But please save the snarkiness. While cathartic and amusing—if any of this can be amusing—it undermines the credibility of this distinguished editorial board, one that we need more than ever right now.
2
The PP pair, Pence and Pompeo are smiling in absolute awe of He with unmatched wisdom who must be obeyed...
Let’s face it, trump chose them above all others so they could smile in absolute reflective glory.... they are disciples of The Chosen. Wow, who wouldn’t look up and smile in absolute wonder of the miracle and stroke of luck in their otherwise bland Life....
2
Do any of the commentators actually understand who the Kurds are and what they stand for in this mess? Or is this just Trump hating for itself? That's fine, as long as we are honest about it.
2
When abandonment, surrender and capitulation are held up and spun out as virtues of success by those who have cut and run on their allies, then the truth is certainly no longer the truth, and with it, our democracy has succumbed to unprincipled autocracy based on greed, corruption, amorality and hypocrisy.
Good night, America.
1
Anyone not part of the Trump delusion phenomenon (very stable genius) can only look on in disbelief and imagine what Putin and Erdogan say about Trump, behind his back, while he issues inane declarations with the helicopter warming up in the background. Great TV.
These are dark days for America, the free world and those looking for America to set a shining example... and, maybe, offer an assist.
4
Alan : I CAN imagine. Can you imagine what I say to the TV, when I accidentally see/hear that Creature ?
NOT for Kids.
1
You know what would be a "very special" victory? When the Senate votes to convict Trump.
22
Of course Putin is the big winner. Trump planned it that way. This is payback for all the money Trump owes Russian oligarchs. When Putin says, "Jump," Trump says "How high?"
6
So many lives have been unnecessarily uprooted because Trump is looking for a campaign slogan. And many killed by the Turkish invasion. A relative small band of US soldiers kept the peace (I believe it was less than 100) and they sufficed to keep Erdogan away and our loyal Kurdish allies safe. Now, pursuant to one phone call, the peace quickly dissolves. But Trump in his thoughtlessness proclaims it a great achievement, all due to his wisdom and resolve. Such bloody nonsense.
2
This deserves a much deeper and longer term assessment than the "us versus them" this editorial seems to hang its hat on. The NYT magazine did a very good piece a few months ago on Putin's worldview in light of actions by the U.S. that expanded NATO. It is that kind of deeper thinking on the interests on all sides (not that Trump is doing any of this) and the deeper economic (what is going on in the banks in Ukraine and Russia) and social (who are the Kurds really?..indigenous mountain people who refuse to integrate into modern society?). Reactive Trump bashing with the crowd is not all we can get from the NYT.
For the sake of argument, let's just say that Trump is incompetent and not intentionally handing victories to Putin. If this is the case, at what point does incompetence become treason?
2
Day by day and little by little Trump is destroying the US. Lets never forget the people that helped him!
9
An observation from afar ...
The Wizard “views the Middle East as little more than a patch of “bloodstained sand” that Americans should stay out of”
THAT explains why Jared (the designated peacemaker for the ME) is missing in action.
I ask myself this. If Russia gains influence in the Middle East will they discourage or encourage terrorism against the United States?
What do you think?
4
Is all this to gain political asylum if Trump is deposed?
Trump's "truth"
trumps Truth.
3
Isn't it interesting how my copy of the Constitution says that the government is empowered only to provide for the "common defence of the United States", and that the Times's copy apparently adds "and the Kurds, and the Saudis, and the Israelis, and the Ukranians, and some Syrians, and whoever else we can think of, all without Congressional approval and all while adding to our children's share of the $22 trillion national debt".
I invite the Editorial Board to post that version of the Constitution. It would make for interesting reading.
3
@Charles
Charlie , we live in a big world, and whether we like it not, we can't move off this globe (yet) to escape all the nations that are our neighbors. If you live in a neighborhood where all about you people are shooting at each other (take parts of Central America , for example), you can't play the ostrich and ignore what is happening. You and your kids will have to fight to survive. We thought to ignore ISIS and the Two Towers came down. Be warned.
ISIS didn’t exist when 911 happened. The war for fake WMDs of W created the vacuum that lead to ISIS several years down the road.
Most of the 911 terrorists are from Trump’s beloved Saudi Arabia (aka most repressive regime of women, LGBTQ and minorities) where we recently sent thousands of more troops amounting to something like 50,000 in total.
@shimr
Hoo boy, where to start? Let's work backwards:
- ISIS didn't exist when the towers came down. ISIS came into being due to our very wrongheaded response to 9/11 (Iraq War). The towers came down as blowback FOR our military interventions (read OBL's fatwa that was used to recruit Atta & crew).
- Just as none of the 9/11 hijackers came from Iraq or Afghanistan, no ISIS attack in the US has been perpetrated by ISIS members from Syria or Iraq. Most were American or African.
- Many of the corrupt regimes in Central America were either put there or were supported by the US, or the regime has killed thousands when we tried to intervene. Take the coup in Honduras that deposed Zelaya for Hernández (Hillary mentioned, then edited out, her role in the coup in her "Hard Choices" book). Or even the 1954 coup in Guatemala that ended with 200,000 killed. MS-13 was born of deportees who originally fled the death squads the US sent to fight in El Salvador. And of course we fueled the Contra/Sandinista conflict in Nicaragua.
So I wouldn't be bragging about Central America as an area where US intervention has had much success.
- Syria, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Ukraine are not our "neighbors".
- The name is "Charles".
1
Republican Party. Republican Party signature, Republican Republican Party act. Sigh no more.
As a child of Holocaust survivors, I am sickened by my inability to prevent the slaughter of our allies, the Kurdish people. I feel utterly ineffectual and yes, guilty on behalf of America.
2
We thought it would come to this and now it has. Nobody wanted to admit it 3 years ago? We're just letting this happen.
2
Once again, looking at the outcomes driven by Trump's actions, I have to wonder "Is Trump a foreign agent? More specifically, is Trump working for Russia?"
Check the outcome, and who benefits. The United States clearly does not benefit from Trump's capricious decision to withdraw. The Kurds, our allies, who lost over 10,000 fighters doing our bidding attacking ISIS, cleary do not benefit. Who does benefit? Syria's Assad, an accused war criminal who has destroyed his country and decimated his own people rather than yield power; Russia, which now gets a prominent role in Syria's future, and an international reputation gift courtesy of Trump; and Iran, whose militias will share Syria with Russia and Assad.
All of the parties to the Syria civil war that benefit from Trump's decision are normally the adversaries of the United States, and one, Assad, should be charged with crimes against humanity, not rewarded for his years-long attacks on his own people. Yet Trump's decision rewards all of these parties, while diminishing United States leverage, diminishing United States credibility, and making mockery of all the US and Kurd fighters who were injured or died in Syria.
Who is Trump working for? It certainly does not appear to be the United States of America.
14
US priority in the Middle East has always been about the oil. The Seven Sisters who rule the world. The lost life there has been about protecting those interest. Russia has done a good job at attaining a stronger foot hold against those ladies, with less loss of life to there own. Remember this the next time you tank up, at Lukoil. It's a feather in Putin's cap.
2
I think it's worse than this.
As he spoke, US forces were still being chaotically moved from the region, unclear as to where they should actually be going. Iraq had just told them that they could only be in the country for 4 weeks, and a Russian spokesperson had said, I read somewhere, maybe half jokingly, that the Americans had 1.5 hours to leave before the cease fire ended.
I suspect that Pence brokering a cease fire had more to do with allowing our forces to get out of there (they had been facing cut off roads at some point), than any humanitarian desire to help the Kurds.
In other words, a day after Turkey and Russia had actually decided how they'd split the contested zone, and while the American forces were still figuring out where they'll end up, the President was declaring this as a victory brokered solely by him. That's quite a MAGA way of spinning a dangerous military retreat.
15
@Miguel sanchez
Totally corrupt move by our very stable genius. how much more damage can/will he do. Why are republicans silent?
2
Recent events make me wonder if we now know what Putin and Trump discussed at their private meeting in Helsinki? The Syria withdrawal may have been a coordinated plan.
Because the meeting was private I am free to speculate. It does not seem to be an unreasonable assumption.
10
That was a long time ago. Can Trump keep a considered plan in mind that long?
2
It’s become really fun to read the Editorial. Is there anything, I mean anything, that President Trump does or does not do that the Board will agree with? It should be made into a guessing game? What will the Board disagree with next? The economy? No good, it’s too good! Lower taxes? No good, the rich are benefiting. Tariffs? No good, Krugman tells us so. No foreign involvement? No good, we need troops everywhere because that’s what we do. What’s next? Dunno, but the Editorial Board will not fail us in this game. They’ll find something that President Trump does or does not do to disagree with. So don’t bet against them!
14
This is no game. Kurds are dying and have lost their homes. Trump has now given to Putin half of Ukraine and Kurdistan. What's next? Estonia? Because he wants to own that now.
And where did the American troops who were in Syria go? He committed more troops to Saudia Arabia than he withdrew from Syria. Our young soldiers are now mercenaries working for the Saudis.
And you write about betting. Want to bet that you probably paid more taxes in the last 5 years than he did? So our taxes are supporting his policies and friendships with dictators. And yet the Republicans continue to vote down election security in 2020.
285
Is he president of the Kurds or president of the United States? His campaign promise was America first and for fulfilling that promise he has my vote. Bring the troops home!
2
@CJ - They're not coming home, they're heading to Saudi Arabia. How is that fulfilling a campaign promise? America First, unless dictators want our help?
49
Israel's True Friend --- OR NOT
Trump's abrupt troop withdrawal has put Israel in a bind --- one that, under the best of circumstances, could last for decades, or, under the worst, could erupt in a hot war in a matter of months.
In one fell swoop, our perspicacious leader placed all the bad actors --- Syria, Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah --- are at the Israel's border, ironically in full view of the "Trump Heights", a planned settlement in the Israeli-occupied Golan that Prime Minister Netanyahu named in honor of the 45th President of the United States.
Moral of the Story: Absent adequate adult supervision, day-traders shouldn't do foreign policy, and most certainly not in the conflict-riddled Levant. Obviously, Mr. Pompeo isn't the right adult.
14
Trump's victory is very much special as it will bring all parties together to solve the Syrian catastrophe. This may lead to good relationship with Russia, as well, that may lead to world peace. How much Trump's plan is special can be assessed only by comparing it with what happened during Obama's time. Half a million death, many millions injured, many millions displaced, Russia and Iran in control of Syria, and ISIS in control of vast portion of Syria and Iraq. Any mess up by Trump will never come close to such a calamity. We know it is very difficult for NY Times stomach it.
2
Donald Trump didn’t do anything other than get thousands of Kurds—our allies—killed, and give new life to the Islamic State. Somehow Trump supporters are happy about that, as grotesque as it is.
3
@Alex E
It's a victory for Putin alright. You understand that it's not world peace on the agenda for him. No, I'm taking for granted that you understand that Putin is sowing chaos and division. What do you think he and Trump talk about? I know I am curious. And here's Putin again trying to do (with Hungary) to Ukraine what he was allowed to do by Trump this week.
***All Roads Lead to Putin***
1
Just about every serious, non-partisan analyst is impressed with the outcome in Syria - a potentially serious situation with Kurdish separatists setting up on Turkey's border under US protection - with minimal loss of life or geopolitical strife. The legitimate government of Syria is back operating in the area after many years, Turkish concerns are being addressed, and US troops aren't being held hostage or shot at.
The world wouldn't collapse if you folks were able to forego your obsessive, relentless criticism for even one issue. This is cartoonish, how Trump's critics will even adopt formerly scorned neoconservative positions to maintain their opposition at all moments.
8
@Dan
Identify the "serious, non-partisan analysts" to whom you refer. I'd like to compare their logic to that expressed by senior military officers such as Votel and McRaven.
3
@Dan- Is "serious, nonpartisan" a euphemism for Russian, Syrian, and Turk analysts?
3
@Dan "You folks"? Does that include the majority of republican senators who were very vocal in their condemnation of your "legitimate government in Syria", complete abandonment of our strategic ally, the Kurds, and the impending resurgence of ISIS?
But Russia is celebrating and hundreds of Kurds are now dead. Good work!
4
"Yet it still comes as a shock that a man, ...would not pause to wonder whether there might be a better way..."
This would take introspection and questioning. The current occupant possesses neither of these qualities. But he was going to leave some troops to protect the oil fields. I guess that oil is more important that people.
56
If Trump's foreign policy is not being dictated by Moscow, how else can it be explained? Mere incompetence would not produce such consistently pro-Russian results.
146
@Richard C Right on!
7
One hand, so to speak, greases the other. Trump's and Putin's palms have long been locked in embrace. Is Erdogan handing Trump a crack in the NATO alliance, that our President has thoroughly disparaged? If not that, then what is the great deal maker getting in return? Not long ago policies of isolationism, high tariffs, and deregulated finance produced a terrible recession. Are we headed there again?
13
When Pence gives Trump that serene and worshipful gaze...
...you start to understand the kind of discipline it takes to first sell out and then to stand fast on selling out, despite how incredibly ridiculous things get and the increasing amounts of moral compromise required.
Mike Pence: hoping for an impeachment that will give him his only chance at power, but knowing somewhere deep inside that he's compromised so much that his redemption is impossible.
100
@Cary James Comey said trump chips away at your soul until you suddenly find yourself sold out. This is a paraphrase but you get my drift. Very few in that circle in the White House will be able to get away clean and unsullied.
4
Isn't there something fundamentally wrong or missing in the constitution or the legal system if such an incompetent and dishonest person can become a president? How much more damage will the US suffer before this flaw is repaired?
49
How can Republican senators abide this ludicrous performance? Are they so cosseted, so insulated by wealth and the support of wealthy donors, that they are numb to the fear of obvious danger?
46
@Paul Dobbs yes, yes they are that cosseted, that insulated and the sad fact is that polling shows that the current occupant of the White House is more popular in their districts than they are so they will ride this train until it runs off the rails. I don't know if numb is the accurate way to describe them...probably more likely resigned to the fact that it is too late to do anything else.
14
@Paul Dobbs Their base has them over a barrel. Without the base, they go out of business. Something needs to happen to move the base, but I've been reading Fox News Facebook page in the past week and it's depressing. Most of those people believe every conspiracy theory out there or are so convinced that their freedom is at risk, that they are threatening militia action. It's a bizarre world.
11
I bet Putin is happy as can be with what Trump is wittingly or unwittingly doing to our country. So far Mitt Romney has shown the most and about only courage of any Republican in Congress.
I can't understand how Republicans can support Trump when Trump's mental state is getting worse by the day. I bet that most 4th graders know that Colorado has no border with Mexico yet Trump thinks we do.
We should not forget that Kim Jong Un has been unchecked in his quest for long range nuclear weapon capability. He wrote a love letter to Trump so Trump has abandoned any oversight of NK.
21
It is still utterly amazing to me that a sizeable portion of the American population continues to support Trump, with his severely underdeveloped vocabulary and amoral, erratic behavior. It is utterly embarrassing that he is the President of the United States. This country, our allies, and the world will be a better place the sooner he is gone.
86
Recent reporting shows that Republicans for whom Fox ‘News’ is the only source of information are unwaveringly behind this one-man crime wave. Meanwhile Republicans who either avoid Fox or balance it with other sources are walking away from Individual-1.
3
It is as if Donald Trump started a fire in a crowded theater, put it out after several fatalities, and then bragged about his heroism.
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@Whole Grains Personally, I like the analogy that he sets his hair on fire, then tries to put it out with a skillet. Better imagery.
3
It’s very simple. ‘All roads lead to Putin’. Think about it. Bad mouthing CIA and FBI from day one. Subservient to Putin and adversarial with his enemies, by the way - our allies. Body language and embarrassing statements made in public - presumably embarrassing, at least, to most Americans. Constant targeted character assassinations, many of whom were appointed by Trump.
Are Republican that myopic?
Which reminds me; I understand the White House will no longer accept the NY Times and the Washington Post. Until the next election these bastions of democracy should offer their online news for free to fight this next onslaught on our American democracy.
24
The funniest part was reading the Fox News articles on Trump's so-called ceasefire which made it sound like he'd ended World War II.
Personally, I like presidents who *don't* have to end wars they started through their own foolish actions.
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@Mr. Adams
That's a gross distortion of events. It was the previous administration that aligned with, and armed, Kurdish separatist groups and put us on a collision course with our official ally, Turkey. The current administration managed to extract us from that situation with minimal problem.
1
That a person of such hubris and ineptitude could exist at all is hard to accept. That such a person has become the President of the United States is incomprehensible. I miss my country and doubt that I will ever see it again.
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@erikmsn Make sure that Wisconsin votes blue in 2020. I worry about your state, where I lived for 27 years. I lived through the Walker years, and I am really concerned that Wisconsin will vote for Trump again. There are reasons to assume that might happen.
12
I recall candidate Trump bragging in his debate with Hillary Clinton that we needn't worry about the Middle East because he knew more about defeating ISIS than the generals.
Hillary Clinton referred to candidate Trump as Putin's puppet.
Test here : Choose which of the above was correct in the debates.
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Trump is about to pay a heavy price for his nonstop insult of the intelligence of the American people.
13
We should be troubled that the Turks and Russians are patrolling together. The Russians are clearly gaining intelligence on NATO hardware, tactics and methods of communication. This gives the Russians greater capabilities to engage in espionage.
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Trump is working for Russia. At least it feels like he is. But I do not believe this is about a campaign promise.
3
. Color me shocked, that once again,US actions benefit the Russians. We have the President removing the small number of troops efficiently working with the Kurds to lockdown that corner of the world. Then the President sending his VP to broker a cease fire (the compete mess he caused) that never ceased, but did allow Turkey to continue the slaughter of our Allies, without the threat of sanctions. We also facilitated the escape of some of the most ruthless prisoners the world has seen.
Meanwhile, not only encouraging foreign countries to dig up dirt. Nope, he has reached the point of bribing them with money they need to abate Russian Action (there that country again). The White house yelling for transparency already given (Replicians are on those committees), while desperately clinging to a blackout of everything. How the Grand Old Party continues to fuel this Narcissistic, who has the the codes to essentially end the worlds we know it. He has reached levels of anarchy that ten years ago, I would have thought only incurred in books. Come on, this doesn’t bother you. The President of the United taking NO action to restrict said rivial from interfering in our elections, while asking another foreign government to supply dirt on a political rival and holding money needed in that country, to deal with that enemy. I, once again,am wondering what has to happen for you to say enough? Please, please stop feeding in to his warped view.
10
I wonder if Wisconsin were to annex 20 miles X the length of the Illinois/Wisconsin border - what would happen? Taxes would change, property ownership would have to be reviewed, the naval base would suddenly be out of Illinois, kids would have to transfer to different schools, folks would have to renew their car, house and business licenses...that's if there wasn't any bloodshed. Add military might with tanks and militia and those twenty miles deep becomes a zone of abandoned homes and lives. It is much more then zig-zagging a pencil line on a map.
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Why is it so difficult to say it out loud? There has been a sustained reticence or even fear of the likely truth: Donald Trump is a Russian asset. Nancy Pelosi's finger-pointing statement the other day was about as close as anyone has come to spelling it out.
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@Zelmira
Not just Trump, many Republicans. There is a Deep (Russian) State in the USA.
3
Google ‘Russian Money and Republicans’ in the Dallas Morning News.
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This very special victory will live in the annals of infamy.
4
With Trump everything is "very special", even his relationship with dictators like Erdogan or Putin, or Kim Jong-un.
And whenever he says "thank you", be especially wary.
7
I’m beginning to think that The Most Salacious parts of the Steele Dossier are true and Trump knows Putin has the tape.
10
Yes Trump is totally responsible for his actions in Syria and the Ukraine. He has betrayed our friends in both places,is instrumental in getting a lot of people killed and left our military in those area in the lurch. He has also blackened the reputation of the USA. When we add in the thuggish behaviour of the Republicans in Congress, it is clear to see that neither he nor the Republicans have any honor or respect for the US Constitution. mI expect Trump to declare martial law and attempt to open "relocation camps" for everyone who does not support him 100%.
6
Imagine having the same thought process as Donald Trump: Everything you do, no matter how bad things turn out, is a huge win that you take credit for. Anyone who begs to differ earns an angry tweet with lots of insults and a cavalcade of inaccuracies.
Even if you break the law, so what? You're special, so it doesn't apply to you. Anything can be justified in your mind. This is why Trump is so dangerous and why he must be removed from office.
14
How low can Trump sink? How high is the moon?
One can not but conclude that Trump abandoned loyal allies and now is claiming a great victory as yet another attempt to divert attention from his impending impeachment. For the same reason he caused a side show by sending his RINO version of storm troopers in the SCIF to create the image of fighting back against the tsunami of hard, cold facts pouring into depositions. Purgatory does not have enough rings.
6
I'm just sayin'...why does it look to me that Trump always seems to let Russia have its way. He started out his presidency by letting us know how much he dislikes NATO. He's now made room for the Russians and those they support in Syria. He had no problem withholding aid from the Ukrainians--ostensibly to gather political dirt or does he just miss the Soviet empire? He does all he can to undermine American institutions. What is his agenda? Is it only to serve himself? Does the chaos he creates only seem to benefit others through his ineptness or is it intentional? I hate to be paranoid, or to fabricate conspiracy theories, but I'm just sayin'...
3
“ Very Special “ Victory. This is like one of those old after-school specials, for Kids. “ Grandpa Must Go to a Special Place “.
Seriously.
5
What is missing in this article is that the Kurd military leader in Syria, Mr Abdi, personally thanked President Trump for the cease fire in a tweet yesterday. However, this article is correct in stating that he also was a major Trump critic over this move in an earlier tweet.
The Times Editorial Board needs to keep up with the news.
This is because Trump is playing rapid three dimensional chess that is well beyond those of average abilities who are his critics like the NYT Editorial Board.
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@Dan
Of course he thanked him for the cease-fire. I would imagine it would be better than genocide.
On the other hand--three-dimensional chess? I don't think so, not from a man who refuses to read and will not listen to people who do. Believe me, you cannot understand the geopolitics of today's world by reading 5 bullet points on a sheet handed to you 5 minutes ago.
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Yeah, that’s what Trump, geopolitical genius, is doing: “playing three dimensional chess.”
Right.
1
@Dan Trump is playing three dimensional chess? It looks more like pin the tail on the donkey, a game played while blindfolded.
This is all a reality TV show. Trump is the star; his base is the only audience which matters. In the alternative reality in which they all live, Trump's telling of events constitutes reality. If the star says that it is a great victory, that he has fixed the Middle East, and that the rest of the world is now singing our praises ("we are respected now; we weren't respected before") than that is the truth in Trump world. Never, ever will any of his reality show viewers read/hear any 'fact check' or back story or anything else to counter the big orange guy's version of reality.
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This is much like watching Bush ramping up for the the Iraq War. Most of us knew how badly this was going to go. Watching Trump kowtow to the wishes of Putin couldn't be happening in plainer sight. We see Trump selling out our country's interest but, just like the Iraq War, what can be done to stop it?
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Trump has no intention of bringing US forces home. Indeed, Reuters has just reported that the United States is reinforcing its military position in Syria with additional military assets to prevent oilfields from being taken over by remnants of the Islamic State militant group or by others.
1
I have supported Donald Trump ever since he said he wanted to be president. I believe everything he says. Why would he lie to me, his most loyal supporter? I have no reason to doubt what he says because I don't know how to think for myself or find the truth myself. I trust Donald Trump to do what's right. He represents people like me.
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@Hobbs
Am I laughing along with you?? I sure hope so!
1
@Hobbs What do you think you are doing reading a clearly fake news story published by a non-approved source? Bad Trump supporter! To make amends I expect you to subscribe to Sean Hannity's daily email newsletter and spend an hour looking an Ann Coulter book cover every night. Our genius leader is the only one who will fix the economy and bring us all the prosperity we are all entitled to, so never doubt him again!
The size of the Don's victory parade provides a useful reality check of what really happened. Russia, Assad and Iran are cheering. But no one from the military, no Kurds, no one from NATO or Europe, not Israel, have shown the slightest approval.
The opposite, in fact...and isn't Israel somewhat interested in things going well in the Middle East?
Even Trump's excuse for the action is false: troops aren't coming home, they're being deployed from the relative safety of Syria to Iraq. And he's not ending wars - he ended the peace in northern Syria - while sending new US troops out to fight for Saudi Arabia. Presumably they pay better.
One thing has now come into the harsh light of day. Trump is (also) now revealed to be a dangerously weak and inept commander in chief.
It must be chilling to troops to contemplate getting an order at the crack of dawn, without warning, from a figurehead 'leader' with a childlike understanding of war and geopolitics.
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It is a curiosity that at a moment when President Trump is facing impeachment for flawed judgment regarding policy in Ukraine he resurrects American doubts regarding subservience to Russia. Either he is so desperate to distract us from his failures in Ukraine that he is willing to risk revving suspicions about his commitments to Russia or he is so beholden to the Russians he will put their interests in the Middle East ahead of our own at the risk of reinforcing his image as extraordinarily corrupt in dealing with Ukraine. Either he is content to be a Russian asset or his fealty to Vladimir Putin has been purchased at a high price in American honor and Kurdish blood. Perhaps Americans need to turn him over to the Kurds to render their own judgment.
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@usa999 I see it as him trying to execute Putin's wish list before he's out of office. He's managed to compromise and sucker a lot of republicans who are panicking and now have to prop up their little treason-king that they sold their souls for.
2
It is also very special for millions of Americans who voted for Trump hoping that he will keep his election promise to stop never ending wars in the Middle East and bringing our troops home. Thank you, President Trump, for keeping your word.
2
@David - The U.S. can get out of the Middle East in a more orderly manner that doesn't require us evacuate so quickly that we had to bomb our own base because we couldn't move our assets in time to meet the deadline. We can also do it a manner that doesn't leave our allies at the mercy of the Turks, Russians and Syrians. This was a surrender, that's what makes it so special.
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@David Right, who cares about our allies? Let them suffer. It's not our problem. The next time we need help, though, let's see what happens. Anyway, Putin is always right, correct?
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This should have been a negotiated withdrawal. But Trump gave up all of his chips before the first pass. And all the Kurds got was a deal not to be slaughtered.
6
His public pronouncements on Syria have been bizarre and utterly disconnected to what's been happening on the ground, going back to his phone call with Erdogan. He's been Erdogan's PR man, and, obviously, signaled a warm welcome for Putin and Russian troops who were prepared. By any evaluation -- including from supporters - he has decided that any and all violations of the "ceasefire" that never was, will be ignored. But he DOESN'T CARE; he lies as he breathes, as long as he sees gain for himself down the road.
The only thing I think has been made explicit here is that this is all about money and oil and more money. And there is a lot of Russian money in the hands of oligarchs looking for safer and more remunerative investments that they can get in the US. With Trump in charge, and various agencies crippled, that money will come to have a larger influence in our system than was achieved via the primitive internet disinformation campaigns.
A few years ago, I might have thought this sounded nuts - - but look at the reports of Giuliani and Russian oligarch's attempts to break into the Marijuana market in California.
For those who think the paper has been too negative on Trump - and at the beginning even i wondered if it went too far. But not now - his only achievements are chaos and disruption.
22
Obama and Clinton started wars because they wanted regime change. Syria is no different. The warmongers from the USA are the cause of many problems in the middle east. It is time to get out. The USA does not need the middle east for energy.
Trump is doing the right thing by ending having troops there.
4
@Mr Chang Shih An The current war in the Middle East was started by Bush and Chaney. Trump has increased the number of troops in region. All he has done in Syria is give away a hard won victory against ISIS and destroyed the US credibility as an ally.
29
45 hands Syria to his master Putin.
45, by withholding the military aid to Ukraine, is also trying to hand it to his master Putin.
40
If one supposes that the foreign policy decisions of Trump,damaging though they may be, can be repaired over time and that things can be set right again -- that supposition may be just as delusional as Trump appears to be. It seems to me that everything that Trump does is cut from the same cloth that clothes the actions of many of us, large and small.
Even it Trump is impeached by the House and removed from office it will do nothing about that sizeable portion of our population who while admitting all the facts suppose that no evil has been done. In short, if the Emperor has no clothes, than neither do many of us.
8
@Robert 2020 will reveal how many, and how much work needs to be done to reach these people. Will Trump still get 60 million+ votes? We shall see.
I think any sane person must be looking at what's happening and shaking their heads. I'm not insulting Trump supporters. The people who continue to support Trump are really system breakers/trolls (which is a legitimate reason I think to support Trump, even though I feel it will be ineffective).
Can't wait to see how 2020 will go.
1
Re” Donald Trump’s ‘Very Special’ Victory in Syria”
In sports, this team Putin victory would be called a slaughter. The Kurds would not disagree.
Never before has the United States become disunited when under attack from an offshore
power. That an intelligence officer from a failing USSR could manage a victory, this late in the game, is embarrassment that will live in the annals of geopolitical history. We can only wish it was a sports disaster, not the collapse of democracy and a slaughter of allies.
42
@RjW To be fair, Putin didn't have to do too much for his victory, it was more or less handed to him.
2
What is so amazing about Trump's action is that he declared we would leave Syria while he is in the process of being impeached.Why isn't he working his tail off to get bipartisan support on common issues like brick and mortar, etc., instead of alienating his own GOP politicians, in particular. And then he announces G7 will be at Doral, only to take it back two days later bc this choice of his was also alienating and illegal.
He just doesn't have much intellect.
47
@Dolly Patterson Dolly, because he is driven by his belief that he knows everything and everyone else is stupid.
2
Syria has been under the Russian sphere of influence since the beginning of the cold war. Russia stood by its boy (Assad) and against forces that devastated Syria and caused an epic migration of innocent people leaving their bombed out homes. Nothing wrong with Russia stabilizing the region and the USA removing their troops from the crossfire between the Turks and the Syrian Kurds. The fight against ISIS is stronger and the world is safer. Win win for everyone. The Kurds have avoided catastrophic consequences of continued Turkish invasion and have kept their dream of a Kurdistan alive. Kurds were not thrown under the bus by the US. They were rescued from being hit badly by a Turkish bus.
4
@Girish Kotwal You're defending Mr. Trump's policy, yes? It must have been very difficult to inform yourself firsthand about the fate of the Kurds, the history of realpolitik in Syria, and the current status of ISIS. I doff my hat in respect.
12
@Girish Kotwal
It's only a matter of time before the Kurds will be in worse trouble than before the US had a presence.
When you say there is nothing wrong with Russia "stabilizing" the area you miss the point that trump makes decisions based on faulty reasoning and loves the strongmen of the area. This isn't good for anybody.
Our president is breaking the law and though some of our citizens may think that's OK, it's still illegal and bad for our democracy. Check your bias at the door.
19
@Girish Kotwal
If Trump wants out of the Middle East he needs to get out of Israel too! No more billions of $’s in financial aid, no more weapons and we want our nuc’s back too. Since Turkey is part of the Middle East and they refused to help us in the fight against ISIS we need to kick them out of NATO. Then we can bring the thousands of soldiers and airmen we have stationed there. After all if we abandon one ally in the Middle East we might as well abandon all of them.
1
In the photo, I like the "very special" goggle lines around Trumpty's eyes, where, as usual, the tanning booth missed.
86
@Ken - I think it's actually makeup. There's usually a line just underneath his chin where he fails to blend out the orange spackle. Ivanka has clearly never let him in on the secret of blending (unsurprising, she heaps the stuff on with a trowel herself, albeit in a more realistic shade). Same thing around the eyes.
4
@Ken He's the Velvetta racoon.He wears a Halloween mask 24/7. It's is closest approximation of a human that he can come up with.
3
"All the while, Mr. Pence, Mr. Pompeo and the national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, gazed at the president with a blank expressions." Each was thinking "the emperor has no clothes" but I'm not going to tell him.
148
@Newfie ..."I'm afraid to tell him."
5
@Newfie "The emperor has no clothes" has been on my mind (our minds) since inauguration day 2017, or even election day 2016. It is the most frightening aspect of tRump's tenure. So many folks (our neighbors, friends and family, even) either duped or willingly blind.
4
A “bizarre account” such as this has many consequences of which two spring to mind. Internationally it confirms how far the US has drifted from its historic position as a trusted and respected world leader. As many have said, recovering this position may take a generation. Domestically, his base will lap it up without considering the broader geopolitical and historic implications. They seems to be unaware of the long term damage his decisions (they are not policies) are doing. So long as Trump remains in office, and is supported by his enablers, the nation will be directed by what appeals to the least aware of us.
54
The Yankees won the World Series. It was a little dicey there for a while against the Astros, but we beat them, and if you don't think we beat them, you don't really understand baseball. In fact, people are saying this might be the greatest victory of all time. It's a little too soon for congratulations because the World Series isn't over yet but I can assure you, we won. (Now I know what it feels like to be Donald Trump.)
191
@jg thanks, a fleeting smile out of this carnage.
8
@jg
And attendance was YUGE! Most tickets sold ever, BIGLY!
13
@jg Don't you mean the Mets? (ducking)
11
Trump has said a dozen times (when reminded that his show was no longer #1) "if you SAY it's #1 enough times people will believe it."
Nothing has changed.
246
It’s called the “Big Lie” technique. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_lie?wprov=sfti1
I won’t mention any names of who coined the technique, not wanting to invoke Godwin’s law.
8
All roads lead to Moscow - it's that simple. Russia bailed Trump out in the '90s, when he had his hat in his hand begging for a financial lifeline; Moscow obliged and he's been beholden to the Russians ever since. That he would put his or his family's interests before the national interest may shock some, but not those who know the man or who have simply followed the news; which begs the question: how could Republican Congressmen and Senators stand behind him the way they are, knowing what they know and seeing and hearing what they have seen and heard from Trump of late?
589
@Agent X How could Republicans continue to support Trump? In a word, complicity. Trump is not the only one with Russian political support.
The NRA, one of the primary founts of Republican campaign spending, got a lot of its financial support from Russia. Should that be exposed, a lot of Republicans would have a lot of explaining to do.
Republicans recognize that that would probably spell the end of their party, and they would rather sacrifice the republic than their power.
137
@Agent X Because they are traitors to our country, that's why. Tax cuts for themselves and their donors is far more important than our Constitution, our democracy, and our national security.
Republicans prove this every single day.
49
@Justin Yes. I agree. One day they will have to explain their decision (to side with this odious man) to their grandchildren.
18
Turning our backs on our allies who have laid down their lives to fight ISIS will haunt the US for decades. Who will be able to restore trust with other allies?
186
@Jacquie You are quite correct. Unfortunately, none of our present or potential future allies will ever be able to trust us at all. It happened under TRUMpp, why could it not happen again?
6
Trump pulled us out of Syria on a whim and days later Putin and Erdogan were dividing up Syria like it was a cake.
Sure Tayyip. Sure Vladimir. Whatever you want is fine with me.
Putin and Erdogan played the President of the United States.
Or maybe Trump told the Kurds we wouldn't protect them anymore unless they made a public announcement they had dirt on Hunter Biden.
352
@fast/furious
Where does one even begin?
Trump’s interpretation of a scenario is completely contrary to what the true facts are. While he claims that he did a great service by pulling out American troops, in the end, his decision and actions certainly was more beneficial for Erdogan, Putin and al-Assad than the U.S.
Whatever and however these deals were brokered, at the end of the day, America is the loser across the board, and yet, the president is claiming a bizarre and twisted victory.
It’s difficult to not believe that Trump is either beholding or in cahoots with Putin for that relationship, as questionable and dubious as it is, continues to benefit Russia over and over again while the U.S. becomes weaker and more suspicious by other allies.
I cannot get the warning Robert Mueller made at those hearings this past summer out of my head - Russian interference in our elections is occurring right now.
What occurred in Turkey is just another slice of that ever growing pie of deception and destruction.
15
@fast/furious Not on a whim, because Erdogan told him to
8
@Entre
Trump has been presenting it like it was a whim but I too believe Erdogan and Putin both told him to. They're calling the shots now.
9
This is "very special," just like its very special how the US leads the world in mass shootings, maternal deaths, and has the lowest literacy rate among developed nations.
309
@BMD
We're so 'special' that I wish Jimmy Carter would lead a delegation to monitor the fairness of our election process.
12
@BMD - Don't forget vaccination rates and managing to double up on healthcare spending (as a percentage of GDP) for consistently poorer results. MAGA!
12
@Jennifer Or our world beating percentage of those incarcerated.
3
Could the leader of our enemy possibly do more harm to international stability and our standing in the world than trump so casually does?
132
Appeasing your enemies and allowing them to make peace on their terms while you retreat shows weakness. Better to negotiate from a position of strength. Even more appalling is trying to take credit for a stability enforced by them that you absolutely had nothing to do with. Especially one that will suppress the freedom of many and subject them again to tyrannical rule. Then again when you are an admirer of absolute domination and subjugating people to your will as Trump is then the accolades are self aggrandizing and illusory just as your inane leadership is.
38
Is there any doubt now as to why the Russians helped Trump win the presidency? It's not Trump who's the "genius"--it's Putin. His investment in our election is paying off--big time!
528
@Richard Fascinating to think that many of us grew up in terror of nuclear war with Russia. But here we are, watching as Trump is manipulated by Putin so effectively that Russia is getting everything it wants. Who could have foreseen that all it would take is for a greedy, ignorant, pathological narcissist to be elected to bring America to its knees?
38
@Richard
Anyone can be a genius doing bad, it's being a genius that's doing good that is remarkable. Illegal competes with illegal. Legal competes with legal.
2
@Richard
The Russians were aided and abetted by the Israelis
Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu are America's real co- Presidents.
Trump is focused on enhancing the profits of the Trump Organization.
9